Our Mission is the Movement's Reason for Being
To inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

A Boys & Girls Club Provides:
• A safe place to learn and grow...
• Ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals...
• Life-enhancing programs and character development experiences...
• Hope and opportunity.

Why We're Special
Four key characteristics define the essence of a Boys & Girls Club. All are critical in exerting positive impact on the life of a child:

1. Dedicated Youth Facility: Boys & Girls Club is a place -- an actual neighborhood-based building -- designed solely for youth programs and activities.

2. Open Daily: The Clubs are open every day, after school and on weekends, when kids have free time and need positive, productive outlets.

3. Professional Staff: Every Club has full-time, trained youth development professionals, providing positive role models and mentors. Volunteers provide key supplementary support.

4. Available / Affordable to All Youth: The Clubs keep membership affordable to our kids - only $20 a year.

History of Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County
Although it has five branch sites today, Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County literally started in a tree house!

Boys Club of South Bend was founded in response to gang activity on the southeast side of South Bend in 1974. The founders of the Club included Frank Sullivan, Louis Baker, Dr. O. C. Carmichael, Jr., and local gang members. These individuals, along with the Associates Foundation, funded the Boys Club completely during its initial days.

Boys Club of South Bend received its charter from Boys Clubs of America on September 10, 1974. The same year it became a member agency of United Way, and received its first United Way funds.

The first location of the Club was a tree house. The following year, the Club moved to Franklin School. Although the Club began as a Club for boys, activities for girls were gradually added to Club programs, and the Club became officially co-ed in 1978.

When the school was sold and the building torn down, the Club moved to the basement of the Southeast Side Neighborhood Center in 1984. Later, when the neighborhood center vacated the first floor, the first floor was made into a large activity room through the efforts of volunteers and donors.

In 1991, the name of the Club was formally changed to Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County.

On January 1, 1992, Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County became an affiliate of Family & Children’s Center, Inc., one of northern Indiana’s major non-profit human services agencies.

In the mid-1990s, a major capital campaign led by Ernestine Raclin and John Phair raised more than $2.2 million dollars to help fund a new facility to house Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County and a child care center operated by another affiliate of Family & Children’s Center. This building located at 502 E. Sample St. in South Bend is today known as the O. C. Carmichael, Jr. Youth Center.

Today the Club had grown to four locations to serve over 500 youth daily. These locations include: SJRMC Wilson Primary Center Branch, the Perley Primary Center Branch, the Battell Elementary School Branch and the Harrison Primary Center Branch..

Locations
Sample Street Branch
O.C. Carmichael Jr. Youth Center
502 East Sample Street
South Bend, Indiana  46601
::click here for a map::

Perley Primary Center School Branch
740 North Eddy Street
South Bend, Indiana  46617
::click here for a map::

Wilson Primary Center Branch
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
56660 North Oak
South Bend, Indiana  46628
::click here for a map::

Harrison Primary Center Branch

3302 W. Western Avenue

South Bend, Indiana 46619

Battell School Branch
715 East Broadway
Mishawaka, Indiana  46545

::click here for a map::