History

Local History

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a 140 year tradition of serving young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances across the U.S., and at the time of our Club’s inception in 2001, Spokane was the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. without a Boys & Girls Club.  In our short eight years of existence, our Clubs have quickly grown from one Clubhouse serving 658 youth in 2001, to two Clubs serving over 2,400 youth in 2008 and the need continues to grow.

National History

Boys & Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in 1860 with several women in Hartford, Connecticut. Believing that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the first Club and a cause was born. In 1906, several Boys Clubs decided to affiliate. The Federated Boys Clubs in Boston was formed with 53 member organizations, marking the start of a nationwide movement.

In 1931, the Boys Club Federation of America became Boys Clubs of America.
To recognize the fact that girls have long been a part of our cause, the national organization’s name was officially changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America marked its centennial year in 2006, celebrating 100 years of providing hope and opportunity to young people across the country.