Mission:

To inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

History:

The Boys & Girls Club of Janesville had its origins through the dreams of several community members who hoped to expand the opportunities for the youth of the community. Following several months of planning, the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville began their operations in October of 1989.

The Club operated out of Jackson, Madison, Monroe, and Wilson elementary schools on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 7:30, providing games, computer activities, and gymnasium activities. The Club’s activities were conducted under the supervision of the Board of Directors who volunteered their time. In these facilities, the Club was able to provide primarily recreational activities to youth in grades three through five.

The Boys & Girls Club of Janesville grew rapidly and received support from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee provided the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville with an associate director to be Janesville’s acting executive director for three months beginning in May of 1990. Following the three-month period, Janesville was able to hire their acting executive director to a permanent position.

The rapid growth of the Boys & Girls Club resulted in support in the Janesville community. In the fall of 1990, the Club became a part of the United Way campaign. The Boys & Girls Club also began to operate from a rented facility in downtown Janesville. Both of these events enabled the Club to expand the types of activities and membership grew considerably with the basketball and Little Hitters programs. It also allowed the Club to extend its membership beyond elementary school age children.

In the fall of 1993, the City of Janesville provided the Boys and Girls Club with a Community Development Block Grant that assisted the Club in purchasing their own facility at 407 West Van Buren Street. Owning its own building gave the club an identity of its own in the community and allowed some expansion of services.

The Boys & Girls Club of Janesville was able to move to their current facility through the assistance of the City of Janesville and a capital campaign conducted jointly with the YMCA of Northern Rock County. The current facility is located at 200 West Court Street and provides the Club with 12,000 square feet of space. This enables the Club to provide the youth of Janesville with a wide variety of programming opportunities including the Power Hour homework help program, numerous physical education programs, three weekly technology programs, numerous art activities, a club choir, and a daily culinary program