Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys Club logo designed by Saul Bass in 1980.
Motto "To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
Formation 1860
Type Youth organization
Legal status Non-profit organization
Purpose/focus "Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence."
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Region served United States
Website bgca.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (or BGCA) is a national organization whose mission is to "enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens." The organization, which holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code, has its headquarters in Atlanta, with regional offices in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York City and Los Angeles. BGCA is tax-exempt and partially funded by the federal government.[1]

Contents

History

The first Boys' Club was founded in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1906, 53 independent Boys' Clubs came together in Boston to form a national organization, the Federated Boys' Clubs. In 1931, the organization renamed itself Boys' Clubs of America, and in 1990, to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. There are currently (2010) over 4,000 autonomous local Clubs, which are affiliates of the national organization. In total these Clubs serve over four million boys and girls. Clubs can be found in all fifty states as well as locations in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and US Military Bases. In total, Boys & Girls Clubs of America employ about 50,000 staff members.

Statistics: Member percentages as of 2010:[2]

The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Boys & Girls Clubs of America number one among youth organizations for the 13th consecutive year, and number 12 among all nonprofit organizations. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America are the official charity of Major League Baseball.[3] Denzel Washington, a former Club member, has been the spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1993. In March 2010, four US Senators questioned the non-charitable spending and compensation practices of the BGCA, citing the charity CEO Roxanne Spillett's total 2008 compensation of nearly $1 million and $4.3 million in travel expenses incurred by the organization that year.[4]

Founding Fathers

These men came together in 1956 to create the "Boys Clubs of America":[5]

Their successors in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America:

Notable Members

Some notable members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America[6]

Goals

The goals set forth by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America[7]

Mission Statement:

To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Core Beliefs:

The Boys & Girls Club aspire to provide all young people with a safe place to learn and grow, and establish ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals by providing them with life enhancing programs and character development experiences.

Strategies

The strategies implemented by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America[8]

These programs help youth create aspirations for the future, providing opportunities for career exploration and educational enhancement.

Helping youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process is the main thrust of these programs. They also develop leadership skills and provide opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community and celebrating our national heritage.

These initiatives develop young people’s capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well-being, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults.

Programs in this core area enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.

These Club programs help develop fitness, a positive use of leisure time, reduction of stress, appreciation for the environment and social and interpersonal skills.

These initiatives focus on meeting the significant and specific needs identified within Boys & Girls Clubs. Their broad scope complements several or all of our core program areas.

Facts and Figures

Information and statistics about the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.[9]

The Facts:

Unique characteristics of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Boys and Girls Clubs of America provide young people with:

The Figures:

3,954 Chartered Clubs facilities, which include:

Age demographics of youth served:

Ethnicity of youth served:

See also

References

External links