Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Who We Are

Who We Are

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is to help young people, especially those who need us most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. We do this by providing: a safe haven filled with hope and opportunity, ongoing relationships with caring adults, and life-enhancing programs.

We will invest and innovate to increase the number of youth we impact.

Central to BGCB’s strategic vision is an outcomes-driven experience that helps members succeed academically, live healthy lifestyles and practice good citizenship.

Our History
Our Vision
Annual Report

Our History

Fostering this sense of safety and belonging has been at the root of our service for 125 years.

As times have changed over the decades, BGCB’s Clubs have remained a beacon of hope and opportunity for the young people we serve, providing safe spaces in which our members can learn and grow despite the challenges they may face at home or in their neighborhoods.

From cobbling and woodworking to music production and wheelchair basketball, BGCB’s programs have evolved over more than a century. What has remained consistent is the dedication of our expert staff members, from aquatics directors to social workers, who serve as role models and create positive, lasting relationships with our members.

Historical Timeline

1893 Bunker Hill Boys Club Opens

In order to provide a safe, productive space for boys, Roxbury Boys Club opens. In 2006, the Club reopens following renovation and expansion, as the Yawkey Club of Roxbury.

1910 Roxbury Boys Club Opens

Frank S. Mason founds the Bunker Hill Boys Club. Doors open in Charlestown on March 11, 1893 with an initial membership of 38 boys.

1925 Boys Clubs of Boston

Bunker Hill Boys Club and Roxbury Boys Club merge as Boys Clubs of Boston, bringing together two strong institutions to create a more effective organization for the community.

1936 First Summer Camp

BGCB opens Camp Wing in Duxbury. Today, it offers full-day camps for seven weeks at each of its sites.

1938 South Boston Club Opens

South Boston Boys Club is founded, enlisting 500 new members in its first year.

1974 Busing Crisis-A Safe Haven

Then and now, Clubs serve as a beacon for kids looking for a safe place where they are accepted and protected without regard to the color of their skin.

1981 Organization Renamed Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston

Girls, many of whom have been attending the Clubs since 1973, are officially admitted to all Clubs as full members. The organization is formally renamed “Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston,” the first in the country to include girls in the name.

1992 Midnight Basketball

During a period of some of the worst gang violence in the city’s history, the Clubs use basketball to calm tensions.

1993 Chelsea Club Opens

BGCB opens a site in the Innes Housing Development. In 2002, it moves to its new home and is renamed the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Club/Kraft Family Youth Center.

1995 Blue Hill Club Opens

A new center is constructed in Dorchester; during the inaugural summer season, more than 200 boys and girls learn to swim. In 2016, the Club is renamed the Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club in honor of the long-standing and ongoing commitment of individuals at Berkshire Partners.

1996 YouthConnect is Established

Originally known as Youth Service Providers Network (YSPN), this partnership with the Boston Police Department features licensed clinical social workers who provide immediate intervention initiatives for vulnerable youth.

2005 Dearborn Joins BGCB

BGCB assumes management of the Club at Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury, making it an additional “Shared Space” Club organized by BGCB.

2007 First Music Club House

The Blue Hill Club is renovated. New features of the Club include the organization’s first Music Clubhouse, which can today be found in six BGCB locations.

2007 Sumner and Condon Clubs Open

Two new Shared Space Clubs join the BGCB family thanks to Charles Sumner Elementary and Condon Elementary.

2009 Franklin Hill Club Opens

In addition to offering a breadth of programming, such as homework help and music lessons, the new Shared Space Club’s proximity to the Blue Hill Club grants access to facilities such as the pool.

2011 Orchard Gardens Club Opens

Dearborn Club staff and membership relocate to a new facility at the Orchard Gardens Community Center.

2013 Hennigan Club Opens

BGCB implements after-school programming at the James W. Hennigan Elementary School in Jamaica Plain, allowing BGCB to serve an additional 100 youth.

2014 Mattapan Teen Center Opens

The first standalone teen center welcomes 260 teens in its first year, with programs ranging from theater and fitness in its Foundation Room to production and recording in Mattapan Records.

2018 125 Years of Service

BGCB celebrates the 125th anniversary of opening its doors and creating opportunities for the children and teens of Boston and Chelsea.

Our Vision

To achieve our strategic vision, we will invest in innovative programs that are both interesting and beneficial, so the young people we serve will visit us on a more frequent basis.

Studies show that the more often children come to the Club, the greater the effect we will have on them.

Annual Report

In our 2018 Annual Report, we reflect on the past 125 years of helping young people, especially those who need us most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. From cobbling and woodworking to music production and wheelchair basketball, BGCB’s programs have evolved over more than a century. What has remained consistent is the dedication and expertise of our leadership, staff, and donors.

A print copy of this publication has been mailed to donors at the $500+ level. The online version includes all donors $100+ and is available by clicking on the cover image to the left.