The Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) is a facility that treats their members respectfully, almost like family. I used to attend the BGCA in Oakland and I felt really cared for while being a member. There were lots of activities as well as people to associate with. On September 19, Boys and Girls Club Day for Kids celebrates the BGCA and all that they offer.

According to https://www.bgcaa.org/our-history, the organization was created as Boys Club in America in Hartford, Connecticut in 1860 by Elizabeth Hamersley and sisters Mary and Alice Goodwin. Over time, the business kept growing and by 1906 rolled around there were 53 independent Boys Clubs of America. In 1929, the Boys’ Club Federation of Canada was officially founded by Vernon McAdam, the first National Executive Director, which was renamed in 1947 as Boys’ Clubs of Canada.

In 1974, to reflect the growing number of young girls participating in Club programs, the organization changed its name to Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, and 16 years later, North America changed its club name to The Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA).

This organization has helped millions of children over the years based on donations. After the success of the film of Black Panther, for instance, Disney donated $1 million to the BGCA to help grow the group’s national STEM program.

Today, the BGCA has over 4,000 clubs and reaches nearly 4 million young people with programs in fields such as education, fitness, bullying prevention, teen issues and social recreation. “The CLUB is a safe place for teens age 13-18, where you can drop in after school and be yourself without feeling the pressure of being judged. Teen center hours and activities vary by community but all offer a unique environment that feels like family,” https://www.bgca.org/ says. The nearest BGCA with a teen center can be found at 160 Meadows Drive in Vacaville.