History of Boys, Girls Clubs goes back more than a century

•Boys and Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in 1860 thanks to a group of women in Hartford, Conn. who believed that boys who roamed the streets should have positive activities.

•In 1906, several Boys Clubs decided to affiliate. The Federated Boys Clubs in Boston was formed with 53 member organizations.

•In 1931, the Boys Club Federation of America became Boys Clubs of America.

•In 1956, Boys Clubs of America celebrated its 50th anniversary and received a U.S. Congressional Charter.

•Recognizing the fact that girls belong, too, the organization’s name was changed to Boys and Girls Clubs of America in 1990. Congress amended and renewed the group’s charter.