OUR HISTORY
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County was founded in 1974. This "Positive Place for Kids" all started in a garage on South Bend's southwest side in response to a business owner seeing area children hanging around and roaming the streets. Strategically placed in neighborhoods identified as having a high need for positive youth intervention, the Boys & Girls Clubs offered fun, educational activities in a safe environment with supervision. Today, the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph county serves over 1,100 children, ages 5-18, at five different club sites in both South Bend and Mishawaka.
45 YEARS OF HISTORY
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 began in a garage, and later moved to various temporary locations in public schools and community centers throughout South Bend.
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 second 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 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 South Bend Community School Corporation 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.
2014
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County celebrated it's 40th anniversary. Mayor Pete Buttegieg of South Bend, Tim Leman, Board President of the Boys & Girls Clubs, Camisa Vines, the 2014 Youth of the Year and BGCSJC alumni were present during the celebration held at the O.C. Carmichael Jr. Youth Center.
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 began in a garage, and later moved to various temporary locations in public schools and community centers throughout South Bend.
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 second 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 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 South Bend Community School Corporation 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.
2014
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County celebrated it's 40th anniversary. Mayor Pete Buttegieg of South Bend, Tim Leman, Board President of the Boys & Girls Clubs, Camisa Vines, the 2014 Youth of the Year and BGCSJC alumni were present during the celebration held at the O.C. Carmichael Jr. Youth Center.
