Our Charity’s History in Philadelphia
Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia has served our city’s youth since 1887. Our Germantown, Wissahickon, and Nicetown units are three of the original clubs that were part of the founding of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America more than 100 years ago. While much has changed since we first began, one thing remains constant:
1887
Germantown Club opens
1892
Nicetown Club opens as the first Club to serve girls since its inception
1896
Wissahickon Club opens as the first Club to serve an African-American community
1906
Philadelphia Clubs join 49 other organizations to charter what has become Boys & Girls Clubs of America
1938
Northeast Frankford Club opens
1941
Bridesburg Club opens
1974
Wissahickon, Frankford, Bridesburg, and Nicetown join to create Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Philadelphia and expand to include after-school childcare
1981
Germantown Club joins the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metorpolitan Philadelphia
1996
West Kensington, the first new club in five decades, opens to serve the Latino community
1997
Bridesburg Club builds preschool addition, and we establish the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia endowment
1999
Organization becomes Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, and host the National Keystone Conference, bringing together youth leaders from 2,000 Boys & Girls Clubs organizations throughout the country
2001
Boys & Girls Clubs implement 21st Century technology programs
2005
Former First Lade Laura Bush visits Germantown Club, and we open our Feltonville Club
2007
Wilson Park and Fairmount Units open, and Feltonville Unit is renamed to honor Police Officer Lauretha Vaird
2012
Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia celebrates its 125th Anniversary
2012
First CEO team, Lisabeth and Joseph Marziello, hired to transform organization
January 2012
“Be Great Philadelphia” campaign raises over $6 million, and reopens Nicetown Unit to community as Shane Victorino Nicetown after a year of closure and major renovations
2013
First Literacy Center opens at West Kensington Club as a part of the Literacy Initiative
2015
$40 Million Bold Change for Kids Campaign is launched to renovate 7 Club buildings throughout the city
2015
Philly Showcase of Wine & Cheese hits a record high of $1.9 million in overall revenue
2016
Three new Club Site open in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority at Johnson Homes, Rosen Homes, and Harrison Plaza
Winter 2016
Began significant renovations to the Northeast Frankford and Bridesburg Clubs, resulting in two brand-new Literacy Centers, new teen centers, renovated gyms and more
Fall 2016
Call to Action Literary Initiative, now operating at 12 Clubs including 3 elementary school partnership sites, is nationally recognized with the Honor Award for Program Excellence at BGCA’s National Conference
2017
First full service Kids Cafe opens at the Wissahickon Club
2018
Organization wins Wawa Foundation Hero Award
Summer 2018
AmeriCorps Great Futures Program launches
April 2019
Philly Showcase of Wine, Cheese & Beer hits record high of over $2 million in overall revenue
September 2019
BGCP awarded a $1,687,500 21st Century CLC grant, allowing us to open two new school extension sites at Ziegler and Emlen Elementary schools
January 2020
Unveiled the completely renovated Northeast Frankford Boys & Girls Club
January 2020
Broke ground to create the Ralph J. Roberts Boys & Girls Club in Germantown
April 2020
Launched our online DEFY Club
September 2020
Opened 15 sites to serve as access-centers for the City’s youth providing full-day programming while schools are closed
September 2020
Hosted the Coach’s Private Reserve Dinner as a socially distanced event, raising over $2.5 million despite COVID-19
May 2021
Philadelphia Hosts National BGCA Conference
September 2021
Hosted the Coach’s Private Reserve Dinner, raising over $2.9 million