Spirit in Our Communities

Sometimes a need in our community finds us, and our hearts at Rowdy Squad FO call us to show up, uplift, and remind others they matter. So we do. 

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When a heartbroken momma shared that continued bullying instances at school had begun taking away the pieces of her daughter that once brought her joy, RSFO & neighbors in our local community rolled up in numbers with positive messages, treats, balloons, and genuine hugs for Bella.  

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Sometimes family isn’t blood and it’s the people who choose to SHOW UP when life gets heavy. Watching different communities come together to show up to remind one young lady just how BIG her village really is, even if she didn't know us before today, that’s what TRUE community spirit is all about. <3

Community is where the real impact starts. 💜

Spending the 21st Annual Sunday Funday surrounded by thousands of local families gave us another chance to share the heart behind RSFO. We’re not here just to teach cheer, we’re here to make sure more kids have access to a place that encourages them, challenges them, celebrates them, and reminds them they belong. Every conversation, new connection, and familiar face helps us keep building something positive for the youth and families in our community. 
 

This is exactly what we mean by:

Cheer Different. Lead Different. Be Different.

Cheer spirit is not about just bows and pom poms. It's showing up, connecting, serving, and cheering on the communities our athletes are growing up in.

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RSFO participated in the UNIDOS Back-to-School Event in the Downtown ABQ International District, an event focused on bringing families, resources, and organizations together while connecting and supporting our predominantly Spanish speaking community.

For our athletes, experiences like this are part of the bigger picture. We want them to learn that leadership means celebrating different cultures and languages, building connections, and using their spirit to uplift the people around them. 

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Because being a cheerleader also means knowing how to cheer for your community.

100 years of Route 66 made Summerfest the perfect place to celebrate the past while investing in the future! RSFO joined the festivities to raise funds that help keep our cheer program affordable and accessible for local families, while also sharing community resources, youth opportunities, and support beyond the sport or cheer itself. For us, events like this aren’t just about getting our name out there; they’re about showing up, giving back, and helping families discover opportunities they may not have known were available. Here’s to the next 100 years of strong communities and even stronger kids!

Rowdy Squad FO Cheer Family was beyond honored to cheer on the incredible athletes, families, and communities of Special Olympics New Mexico for their opening ceremony. From EVERY corner of the state. We brought ENERGY, ENCOURAGEMENT, and HEART as we celebrated DETERMINATION, UNITY, ACHIEVEMENT, and the POWER of COMMUNITY! Lifting spirits and cheering on CHAMPIONS across NEW MEXICO is exactly what being a cheer family is all about. At RSFO, we believe every athlete deserves to feel seen, supported, celebrated, and empowered to shine both on and off the mat.

Special Olympics New Mexico serves more than 3,700 athletes statewide by providing year-round training and competitions in 11 Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Their mission to build inclusive communities, transform lives through sport, and improve quality of life for athletes is truly inspiring. 

RSFO participated in Miles for Mustangs, a meaningful event supporting Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding, Inc. and their incredible mission of providing therapeutic horseback riding experiences for individuals with special needs and disabilities, as well as veterans. Our athletes ran a total of 616 miles at practice! (22 athletes × 28 practices from February to April!). Our collaboration reflects one of our deepest passions of promoting mental health awareness and emotional well-being within our athletes, families, and communities. Events like Miles for Mustangs remind us that teamwork, service, and mental wellness all go hand in hand. We are pumped to stand alongside organizations like Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding, Inc. and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the communities we call home.

Rowdy Squad FO proudly participated in the Keep Kewa Beautiful initiative, coming together as a team to give back to a community that supports us. Through this effort, our athletes learn that being part of something bigger than themselves goes beyond the sidelines. It means showing up, being a leader and making a positive impact. Whether it’s cleaning up our local lands or encouraging others to take pride in where we live, our cheer family is committed to leading with heart, teamwork, and service. This experience not only strengthens our bond as a team but also helps shape strong, community-minded leaders for the future.

We were happy to bring Rowdy Squad spirit to Career Day at Albuquerque School of Excellence! We shared what it takes to be a cheer coach and small business owner alongside what it means to be part of a team, set goals, and work hard both in and out of the classroom. From leadership and confidence to the importance of community, we loved inspiring students (K-12) to dream big and believe in themselves. Serving our community is part of who we are, and we’re always excited to represent Rowdy Squad beyond the mat.

Our cheer athletes and families came together to create holiday magic while building our very first float for the annual Twinkle Light Parade. Amid the laughter and shared spirit, we paused to sing a meaningful song for our friend and float driver, Tyson, in honor of his daughter’s first heavenly birthday. We always say we cheer for a greater cause - and Analia is one of our reasons why.

Our gift-wrapping fundraiser reminded us that impact goes beyond goals. While fundraising for much-needed cheer mats for our youth athletes, our gift-wrapping team spent five days meeting incredible service members and their families. We shared meaningful conversations, heartfelt stories, and gratitude on both sides. With each donation, guests received a raffle ticket for our Grill Giveaway, an honor made even more special when the winner was a newly widowed mother of six.

Military service is deeply woven into the heart of Rowdy Squad FO; within our owner’s family and the families of many of our athletes. Honoring veterans and their sacrifices, past and present, is something we hold close. Being part of Wreaths Across America at the Santa Fe National Cemetery for their memorial service and wreath laying ceremony was a moving experience and an enormous honor.

Changing mindsets starts with showing up.
Hosting our first Trunk or Treat on the Westside of ABQ where our owner grew up, still has family, and coaches our Panther cheerleaders was incredibly meaningful. The large turnout, safe free Halloween fun, and over $1,000 in treats handed out made this night one we’ll never forget. Thank you to the vendors who donated their services and every family who came out to celebrate with us. 

Rowdy Squad FO served as a vendor, but our true purpose was giving back. Through raffle items for "Gabbie’s Howl," we raised funds for former Lobo’s Cheerleader Gabbie Inez-Madero, who was critically injured after being hit by a drunk driver while visiting family out of state. We are grateful to everyone who supported this cause and blessed to have had her family join us to accept all donations collected.