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The Boys & Girls Clubs are builders of dreams. These were the memorable words of Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz reflecting on his experience growing up in a Boys Club in the Bronx. Few words better capture the essence of our Clubs today.
It has been said that you can only become what you can imagine. How does a teen struggling in school imagine ever attending college? How does a broken home affect a child’s image of a lasting relationship? Is it surprising when an abused child imagines violence as the most effective way to solve a problem? Boys & Girls Clubs offer a safe haven that is there every day, year after year. The Clubs offer staff who care, encourage and inspire; a place where members feel a sense of belonging; where they are free to imagine . . . free to dream.
It all started with a midnight riot. In January 1943, an uprising broke out on the corner of 85th and Greenwood involving more than 100 teens. King County Sheriff Harlan S. Callahan responded to this incident, as well as the overall issue of juvenile crime and vandalism, which was becoming a significant community problem, by appointing Deputy Joe Woelfert to find a solution. Joe’s answer was to open the first Boys Club on the same corner where the riot occurred. The Club was a rousing success. Within two years, eight Clubs sprouted up in local neighborhoods throughout King County. Today, there are 12 Clubs around King County, where staff and volunteers enrich the lives of thousands of youths on a daily basis.
To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
With 12 full-service Clubs, and 28 before- and after-school program sites, the organization is one of the largest of its kind in the nation, serving 18,000+ members annually. Program areas offered to youth include character & leadership development, education & career development, health & life skills, the arts, and sports/recreation.
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Up-to-Date Photos of the Rainier Vista Club being built! Click
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Fact Sheet
