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PHILOSOPHY
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Boys & Girls Clubs represent the fastest growing youth guidance organizations in the nation. Founded in 1860 in New Haven, Connecticut as the Boys Club, it was established as a safe place for young boys whose older brothers and fathers were off to fight the Civil War. Younger boys and girls were used in the factories and many led lives of poverty in our big cities and roamed in gangs for food and money. Over the years, the movement won ever-growing support as a positive and major force for the youth within hundreds of cities and towns. It eventually evolved into a club where young people (girls were included in the 1950's) found positive influences, developed skills and learned good decision making abilities. In 1956, Boys Clubs Of America was granted a U.S. congressional charter, the only youth guidance organizations so recognized in more than 40 years. Today there are over 2,000 Boys and
Girls Clubs with membership of more than 3,300,000 boys and girls.
These clubs have buildings and other assets valued at over 200 million
dollars. Each Boys and Girls Club Corporation is an autonomous
organization. It is managed by a local board of public spirited citizens
and is supported by United Way or contributions made directly to the
Boys and Girls Club. 
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