1860
Several women in Hartford, Connecticut, founded the first Boys Club for young boys who roamed the streets and needed a positive influence.
1861
Fifty-three independent Boys' Clubs came together in Boston to form a national organization, the Federated Boys' Clubs.
1931
Federated Boys' Clubs became Boys Clubs of America.
1956
Congress chartered Boys Clubs of America.
1974
O. C. Carmichael, Jr., Louis Baker, Frank Sullivan and local former gang members founded the Boys Clubs on South Bend's southwest side. The Club literally began in a garage, and later moved to various temporary locations in public schools and community centers throughout South Bend until 1997.
1990
To reflect its increased service to young women, Boys Clubs of America became Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
1992
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County affiliates with Family & Children's Center, adding critical prevention programming to the comprehensive continuum of care of existing agencies.
1997
A permanent Club location was completed after a successful capital campaign, led by Ernestine M. Raclin and John T. Phair, that hoped to raise $1 million – and raised over $2 million – funding the first stand-alone facility for Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County. The building would later be named the O. C. Carmichael, Jr. Youth Center in 2003.
1998
A Lilly Grant for $75,000 through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County funds site at Perley School.
1999
The first school site opens in Mishawaka at Battell Elementary School.
2000
A partnership with Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center results in a third school-based Club site opening at Lafayette School in South Bend.
2003
The Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center Lafayette site moves to Wilson Primary Center in order to serve more students in South Bend.
2006
The Harrison Primary Center Branch opened in collaboration with the Bilingual Services Department of the SBCSC to serve the growing west side Latino population with the Clubs' first bilingual staff.
2007
Navarre Intermediate Center opened as the first Club site serving middle school students in St. Joseph County.
2009
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County celebrates its 35th anniversary of providing hope and opportunity to community youth. In partnership with the School City of Mishawaka, three satellite sites are opened at Emmons, LaSalle and Liberty Elementary Schools in addition to its existing branch at Battell Elementary School.
2010
Today the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County serve over 2,000 children each year at eight locations throughout St. Joseph County.