For more than a century, Clubs have helped put young people on the path to great futures. Boys & Girls Clubs annually serve nearly 4 million young people, through membership and community outreach, in some 4,300 Club facilities throughout the country and BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide.
The Facts:
Unique Characteristics of a Boys & Girls Club
• Clubs are community-based and building centered.
• Clubs provide a safe, affordable place for young people during non-school hours and during the summer.
• Clubs are led by paid, trained youth development professionals.
Boys & Girls Clubs provide young people with:
• A safe place to spend time during non-school hours and the summer as an alternative to the streets or being home alone.
• A chance to play, have fun, laugh, and learn.
• Opportunities to build new skills that raise each child’s belief that he or she can succeed and receive recognition for personal accomplishments.
• Ongoing relationships with caring adults in a positive environment, reinforcing a sense of belonging, personal accountability, and civic responsibility.
• Generation-changing programs that support a commitment to learning, positive values, healthy habits, and high expectations for success as an adult.
The Figures:
4,300 chartered Clubs facilities, including:
• 1,594 in schools
• 481 BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide
• 990 Clubs in rural areas
• 296 Clubs in public housing
• 175 Native American lands
About the Youth We Serve Nationally
• 5% are 5 years old and under
• 36% are 6-9 years old
• 30% are 10-12 years old
• 19% are 13-15 years old
• 10% are 16 and older
• 55% are male
• 45% are female