National Boys & Girls Clubs Week is celebrated annually in mid-spring or early summer. There is no fixed date because it changes every year, and this year it takes place from June 25 to July 1. For more than 75 years, Boys & Girls Clubs across the country have been holding this week to celebrate the invaluable service that clubs bring to communities. This special holiday offers the general public the opportunity to experience the life-changing programs that the Boys & Girls Club provides to children and teenagers across the United States.
History of National Boys & Girls Club Week
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B.G.C.A.) is a national organization of local branches that offers voluntary extracurricular programs for young people. The organization has a congressional charter under Section 36 of the United States Code and is headquartered in Atlanta, with regional offices in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles. The B.G.C.A. is tax-exempt and partially funded by the federal government.
The first Boys & Girls Club was founded in 1860, in Hartford, Connecticut, by three women: Elizabeth Hammersley and sisters Mary and Alice Goodwin. In 1906, 53 independent Boys Clubs in Boston merged into a national organization called the Federal Boys Club. In 1931, the organization changed its name to Boys’ Clubs of America and then to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990. By 2010, more than 4,000 autonomous local clubs were affiliated with national organizations. In total, these clubs serve more than four million boys and girls. The clubs can be found in all 50 states, such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the U.S. military bases. The B.G.C.A. employed about 50,000 people.
For the 13th year in a row, “The Chronicle of Philanthropy,” a magazine that covers the nonprofit world of philanthropy, ranked the B.G.C.A. first among youth organizations and 12th among all nonprofits.
The National Week of Boys & Girls Clubs celebrates the sustainability and perseverance of these clubs. As part of the week, Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States and the U.S. military bases are holding weekly celebrations to see how clubs are doing everything they can to help young people stay on the right track.
National Boys & Girls Club Week timeline
Herbert Hoover, James A. Farley, William E. Hall, and others come together to create the Boys Clubs of America.
Saul Bass designs the Boys and Girls Clubs logo.
The Boys Clubs of America is renamed and replaced by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The company donates $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs to develop STEM programs in the United States.
National Boys & Girls Club Week FAQs
How does the Boys & Girls Club affect the community?
Club members learn life skills, communicate with people, and stand up for what is right.
How to become a member of the Boys & Girls Club?
Anyone aged six to 18 can become a member of the club. You can download the membership application online, fill it out, and send it to the local club.
What is the role of the Boys & Girls Club?
Club programs contribute to academic success, good character, and a healthy lifestyle for young people. BGCA club members help community leaders create new clubs.
National Boys & Girls Club Week Activities
Visit the local Boys & Girls Club
If you have never dared before, it’s time to go there. Don’t miss the chance to change your life for the better.
Make a donation
For a club to be functional, it needs a lot of things, such as computers, devices, and educational games. The best way to help them develop is through donations.
Promote clubs on social networks
The internet is an integral part of human life. You can attract more children to these clubs by using your social networks.
5 Interesting Facts About After-School Clubs
It improves academic performance
According to research by S.M.U.’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development, children who participate in structured extracurricular programs have improved academic performance.
It builds confidence and self-esteem
Improving the skills or hobbies that children pursue in after-school clubs boosts confidence and self-esteem.
Real-world skills are developed
Real-world skills, or life skills, are developed and polished by learning and practicing new activities.
It is the foundation for the future
A well-prepared student with extracurricular activities is often a more attractive candidate when it comes to entering college.
The clubs are good for the family
Out-of-school clubs provide a safe place for children to spend their time when working parents can’t pick up their children after school.
Why We Love National Boys & Girls Club Week
It helps overcome barriers
There are many barriers, such as language, culture, and communication. Clubs are doing everything they can to remove these barriers and ensure the same quality for all kids. And during this week, they stress the importance of equality and cooperation.
It recognizes the importance of clubs
It's time to recognize the tremendous influence that clubs have on the lives of children and teenagers. And it celebrates how the clubs help children gain experiences that change their lives beyond their time at the club.
It highlights the role of clubs
Many parents do not understand the benefits of these clubs. National Boys & Girls Club Week is held to demonstrate what children can become and how they can grow mentally with their help.
National Boys & Girls Club Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | June 27 | Monday |
| 2023 | June 26 | Monday |
| 2024 | June 24 | Monday |
| 2025 | June 25 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | June 25 | Thursday |
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