History
We recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Boys & Girls Clubs of The Lower Naugatuck Valley. Founded as the Shelton-Derby Boys Club, we now serve over 3,100 boys and girls in Shelton, Ansonia and Derby.
Milestones In Our History
1955: Shelton-Derby Boys’ Club founded and received charter.
1979: Organization became the Shelton-Derby Boys and Girls Club.
1981: Boys Clubs and Girls Club merged with the Community Building Association and takes over the entire location at 423 Howe Avenue.
1991: Fire destroys Shelton-Derby Boys and Girls Club forcing them to move to smaller, temporary facilities.
1992: The Shelton-Derby Boys and Girls Club changed its name to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
1998: A new building was built in Shelton, CT to become the permanent home for The Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
2007: Derby Unit chartered December 21, 2007.
2008: Milford Unit chartered June 3, 2008.
2009: Ansonia Unit, Joel E. Smilow Clubhouse opened May 21, 2009.
Milestones In Boys & Girls Clubs Of America's History
1860: The Dashaway Club established in Hartford, CT.
1868: Providence (RI) Boys Club opened by the Union for Christian Work.
1876: Boys Club of New York founded – first to use “Boys Club in its corporate title.
1891: San Francisco Boys Club opened, extending the movement coast-to-coast.
1897: Boys Club of Fall River, MA built – first building erected specifically to be a Boys Club.
1906: Birth of Federation Boys Clubs (FBC) in Boston ,with 53 clubs as members.
1914: National Headquarters moved to New York City.
1915: The national organization’s name changed to the Boys Club Federation, and memberships expanded to include clubs in Canada, Australia, Holland, and the British Isles. Basic service divisions formed the BCF.
1929: National organization’s name changed to Boys Club Federation of America, to distinguish it from Boys Club national organizations in other countries.
1931: Boys Club Federation of America renamed Boys Clubs of America.
1937: The Boys Clubs Executive Association organized for Club directors.
1938: BCA established a special advisory Committee of members in the medical field, which established minimum standards and correct procedures for all health, hygiene, and dental work to be conducted in Boys Clubs.
1949: Epstein Memorial Foundation (now the Young Artists Program) began to provide scholarships for boys with exceptional talents in the arts.
1953: Boys Club Executives Association and American Boys Club Associates merged to form Boys Clubs Professional Association for all Boys Club professionals.
1956: BCA celebrated its 50th anniversary and received a U.S. Congressional Charter.
1960: New national headquarters – the Herbert Hoover building – dedicated, giving BCA a permanent location. U.S. commemorative Boys Club stamp distributed. Beginning of 6-year Study of Needs and Interests of Boys Club members.
1963: National Association of Keystone Clubs formed.
1966: The Ten Year Plan established to meet Herbert Hoover’s challenge. Honor Awards for Program Excellence begun.
1969: Concerned Professional Association established.
1972: BCA reached goal of 1,000 Boys Clubs, and one million members.
1976: BCA reorganized its field offices into five regions for more effective service.
1980: BCA unveiled new National Identity Program – clasping hands service mark adopted.
1990: The national organization's name was changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to recognize the fact that girls are a part of the cause,
2006: The Centennial year of Boys & Girls Clubs of America was celebrated - 100 years of providing hope and opportunity to young people across the country.