Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (or BGCA) is a national organization of local chapters which provide after-school programs for young people. The organization, which holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code, has its headquarters in Atlanta, with regional offices in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York City and Los Angeles. BGCA is tax-exempt and partially funded by the federal government.[1]

Contents

History

The first Boys' Club was founded in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1906, 53 independent Boys' Clubs came together in Boston to form a national organization, the Federated Boys' Clubs. In 1931, the organization renamed itself Boys' Clubs of America, and in 1990, to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. There are currently (2010) over 4,000 autonomous local Clubs, which are affiliates of the national organization. In total these Clubs serve over four million boys and girls. Clubs can be found in all fifty states as well as locations in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and US Military Bases. In total, Boys & Girls Clubs of America employ about 50,000 staff members.
Statistics: Member percentages as of 2010:[2]
  • 65% are from minority families
  • 5% are 5 years old and under
  • 43% are 6–10 years old
  • 19% are 11–12 years old
  • 21% are 13–15 years old
  • 12% are 16–18 years old
  • 55% are male
  • 45% are female.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Boys & Girls Clubs of America number one among youth organizations for the 13th consecutive year, and number 12 among all nonprofit organizations. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America are the official charity of Major League Baseball.[3] Denzel Washington, a former Club member, has been the spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1993.

Founding Fathers

These people came together in 1956 to create the "Boys Clubs of America":[4]
Their successors in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America:

Notable Members

Some notable members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America[5]

Goals

The goals set forth by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America[6]
Mission Statement:
To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Core Beliefs:
The Boys & Girls Club aspire to provide all young people with a safe place to learn and grow, and establish ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals by providing them with life enhancing programs and character development experiences.

Strategies

The strategies implemented by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America[7]
  • Education & Career Programs:
These programs help youth create aspirations for the future, providing opportunities for career exploration and educational enhancement.
  • Character & Leadership Programs:
Helping youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process is the main thrust of these programs. They also develop leadership skills and provide opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community and celebrating our national heritage.
  • Health & Life Skills:
These initiatives develop young people’s capacity to engage in positive behaviors that nurture their own well-being, set personal goals and live successfully as self-sufficient adults.
  • The Arts Programs:
Programs in this core area enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing.
  • Sports, Fitness and Recreation:
These Club programs help develop fitness, a positive use of leisure time, reduction of stress, appreciation for the environment and social and interpersonal skills.
  • Specialized Programs:
These initiatives focus on meeting the significant and specific needs identified within Boys & Girls Clubs. Their broad scope complements several or all of our core program areas.

Facts and Figures

Information and statistics about the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.[8]
The Facts:
Unique characteristics of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America
  • Clubs are community based and building centered.
  • Clubs provide a safe affordable place for young people during non-school hours and summer vacation.
  • Clubs are led by trained, paid youth-development professionals
Boys and Girls Clubs of America provide young people with:
  • A safe learning environment.
  • 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 and connections to new friends in a positive environment, reinforcing a sense of belonging, personal accountability, civility 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:
Boys & Girls Clubs of America serves some 4 million youth through Club membership and community outreach.
3,954 Chartered Clubs facilities, which include:
  • 1,265 in Schools
  • 356 BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. Military Installations
  • 316 in Public Housing
Age demographics of youth served:
  • 6% are 5 years old and under
  • 43% are 6–10 years old
  • 19% are 11–12 years old
  • 20% are 13–15 years old
  • 12% are 16 and older
  • 55% are male
  • 45% are female

Ethnicity of youth served:
  • Caucasian – 36%
  • African-American 28%
  • Hispanic/Latino – 23%
  • Multiracial – 7%
  • Asian-Americans – 3%
  • Native-American – 3%

See also

References

  1. ^ BCGA Connections brochure
  2. ^ The Facts
  3. ^ Major League Baseball - Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  4. ^ http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/juris/j0110_63.sgml
  5. ^ http://www.bgca.org/newsevents/Pages/GFSH_PSA.aspx
  6. ^ http://www.bgca.org/whoweare/Pages/Mission.aspx
  7. ^ http://www.bgca.org/whatwedo/Pages/WhatWeDo.aspx
  8. ^ http://www.bgca.org/whoweare/Pages/FactsFigures.aspx
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