Published: June 29, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Updated: June 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM
NFL star Andrés Borregales, who was born in Caracas and moved to South Florida in 2004, joined the Global Empowerment Mission’s team to help send aid to northern Venezuela.
The 23-year-old New England Patriots player — who made NFL history on Feb. 8 as the first Venezuelan-born player to make it to a Super Bowl — didn’t just hand over money and donations.
“We physically can’t be there right now … which sucks … but we are still helping out in any way that we can. That’s why we are here helping out,” he said while volunteering at GEM’s warehouse in Doral.
The former University of Miami standout, known as “Automatic Andy,” and his wife, Stephanie Borregales, a Florida State University graduate, wore the GEM neon green vest with pride.
“I have my sister over there,” the NFL football kicker said. “Thank God, she is OK, but a lot of families aren’t.”
There was urgency after a 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck on Monday amid the devastation of Wednesday’s 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in the Venezuelan state of La Guaira.
Andy Borregales, who graduated from Champagnat Catholic School in Hialeah in 2021, has many friends in South Florida who have also contributed to the disaster relief effort with donations and time.
“It’s really just amazing to see just everyone come together,” said Stephanie Borregales, a Cuban American who wed the NFL player last year in Boca Raton.
Andy Borregales also played football as a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Miami’s Overtown and Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood.
Related list: Drop-off locations in South Florida
More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage
VENEZUELA A helicopter flies over a search and rescue team at work on Saturday in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) 
AMS-GEN VENEZUELA-SISMOS Residentes y rescatistas buscan entre los escombros dos días después de los sismos que sacudieron La Guaira, Venezuela, el 26 de junio de 2026. (AP Foto/Matías Delacroix) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Matias Delacroix/AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) 
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers search through the rubble three days after earthquakes struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) 
Venezuela Earthquake Residents and rescue workers search through the rubble two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Pablo Arraez) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Juan Pablo Arraez/AP Photo/Juan Pablo Arraez) 
Venezuela Survivors walk on Friday near a toy that was abandoned in the rubble of an apartment building in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Foto/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) 
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers aid Daniel Cordero after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) 
Venezuela Earthquake Venezuelan Police searches through the rubble two days after earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) 
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers place Daniel Cordero on a stretcher after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) 
Venezuela Earthquake Members of a religious organization distribute food to people affected two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Christina Vazquez
Andrea Torres