Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a national non-profit youth organization that links together individual clubs throughout the United States with the aim of providing places to go, activities, health and fitness enhancement, and programs for young people. A non-profit organization (often called non-profit org or simply non-profit or not-for-profit) can be seen as an organization that doesnt have a goal to make a profit. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

History

According to the group's web site, the organization "had its beginnings in 1860 with several women in Hartford, Connecticut." The first club was opened there—for boys only—and soon other communities in the region decided that such places would be good for their boys. In 1906, 53 independent Boys' Clubs, as they were known then, came together in Boston to form a national organization, the Federated Boys' Clubs and in 1931 they became Boys Clubs of America. In 1956, the group was chartered by Congress, and the charter was updated—after an agreement was reached with Girls Clubs of America, which changed its name to Girls, Inc.—to reflect the organization's name change to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990. In 1996, Roxanne Spillett, current president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, was appointed. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Four boys on the West Bank. ... A congress is a gathering of people, especially a gathering for a political purpose. ... Girls, Inc. ...

2006 marks the organization's centennial; four-thousand club staff members, administrators, board, and national staff will help celebrate this achievement.

Overview

Today Boys & Girls Clubs of America has over 3,900 autonomous local clubs — which pay dues to the national organization — throughout the country that serve large numbers of boys and girls, generally between the ages of 6 and 18. The organization has some 47,000 professional staff members, who serve more than 4.6 million boys and girls in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Many clubs are located in urban areas and serve children from low-income families.

Denzel Washington, a former member, has been the spokesperson for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America since 1993. [1] Denzel Jermaine Washington, Jr. ...

In its latest "Philanthropy 400" report, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Boys & Girls Clubs of America number one among youth organizations for the eleventh consecutive year, and number 12 among all nonprofit organizations. The Chronicle of Philanthropy is a biweekly newspaper that covers the nonprofit world. ...

Membership

Notable members

Famous alumni (from the clubs' website):

• Wes Clark
• Bill Clinton
• Bill Cosby
• Neil Diamond
• Derek Jeter
• Michael Jordan
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee
• Shaquille O'Neal
• Brad Pitt
• Alex Rodriguez
• Martin Sheen
• Denzel Washington
• Edward Furlong

Wesley Kanne Clark (born December 23, 1944) is a retired four-star general in the U.S. Army. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... William Henry Bill Cosby, Jr. ... Essential Neil Diamond album cover. ... Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26, 1974) is a seven-time All-Star shortstop for the New York Yankees and the teams leader and captain. ... For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ... Jackie Joyner-Kersee (born March 3, 1962) is a retired American athlete, ranked amongst the all-time greatest heptathletes. ... Shaquille Rashaun ONeal (born March 6, 1972), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player. ... William Bradley Brad Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Martin Sheen Martin Sheen (born Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez August 3, 1940 in Dayton, Ohio) is an American actor, best known for his roles in the film Apocalypse Now and, most recently, as President Josiah Bartlet on the television drama The West Wing. ... Denzel Jermaine Washington, Jr. ... Edward Furlong (1991) Edward Furlong (born Edward Walter Torres on August 2, 1977 in Glendale, California) is an American actor who is probably best known for playing young John Connor in the one the most successful films of all time Terminator 2: Judgment Day. ...

Demographics

• 66% are from non-white families
• 11% are less than 7 years old
• 26% are 7–9 years old
• 30% are 10–12 years old
• 21% are 13–15 years old
• 10% are 16–18 years old
• 2% are more than 18 years old
• 55% are male
• 45% are female

See also

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada

Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada is a national organization of associated clubs throught Canada. ...

External link

• Boys and Girls Clubs of America website