Redlands
California
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Boys and Girls Club of Redlands
About Us
Boys & Girls Club of Redlands is a safe place to learn and grow -- all while having fun. It is truly The Positive Place For Kids.
In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more.
Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.
The Boys & Girls Club of Redlands was re-established on August 30, 1967. We us "re-established" because we really are not sure how old the Redlands Club actually is - we know there are some national awards that were recieved in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
The Club is goverened by an all volunteer Board of Directors who set strategic goals and long-term planning for the organization.
The Club has trained, professional staff that lead the day-to-day operations of the organization.
History
The Boys Club of Redlands was re-founded in August of 1967. We use the term “re-founded” due to documents from our National Office that date back to the mid-forties and early fifties. Because of these documents, we believe that the Redlands Club was established for a period of time, and for some unknown reason folded, only to rise again on the 30th day of August 1967.
The re-founding Board was comprised of a group of businessmen concerned with the less advantaged youth – primarily Hispanic boys from the northside. The Board of Directors were of Walker Smith, Jr., Lee Guggisberg, Robert H. Mitchell, Victor E. Miller, Dean O. Garvey, Edward F. Taylor, Norman Martinez, and James Sloan. Mr. Sloan became the first president of the Board and Gerry Smith was hired as the first Executive Director.
An old packing house located 1125 North Sixth Street was renovated and the doors were opened for youth programs on December 14, 1967. The Club served an average of 300 members yearly, with peak years reaching nearly 500. By early 1978, the Club was outgrowing the Sixth Street Clubhouse. Working with United Way and the then House of Neighborly Service Board, the Club was able to move to the empty facility located at 612 Lawton Street. The re-opening was made in the spring of 1979, with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Redlands Councilwoman Barbara Riordan.
In January 1987, the Presbytery of Riverside, owners of the land at 612 Lawton, expresses their intentions to sell the land. With immanent loss of the Lawton Clubhouse, the Club looked to establish an outreach site to conduct programs. After talking to the Redlands Unified School District, it was agreed that putting programs at Franklin and Mentone Elementary Schools would benefit the Club and the School District. The Club would have sites to hold programs if their Clubhouse was sold and still serve the needy northside youth. The outreach program won an award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In August of 1998, the Board of Directors approved the change in the name of Club to reflect its expanded service to girl members. The Club filed its amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the State Secretary, to become the Boys & Girls Club of Redlands.
The City of Redlands sought to preserve the history of the House of Neighborly Services and an appeal was put to the Presbytery of Riverside to convert the use of the House into a center for homeless, which was within the mission of the Presbytery. The plan was accepted and the property was saved. However, the re-use plan necessitated the use of the entire facility and when renovation was started in 1990; the Boys & Girls Club of Redlands was asked to leave.
The Club's Board of Directors decided to continue their outreach programs at Franklin and Mentone Schools. They also expanded and opened a site at the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino's community center located on Lugonia Avenue. The School District, under pressure to provide licensed extended day care at their schools, recinded the Club's permission to hold programs at Franklin and Mentone Schools. By early 1991, the outreach programs at the schools ended, leaving only the Lugonia Site for Club programming.
Boys & Girls Club of Redlands is a safe place to learn and grow -- all while having fun. It is truly The Positive Place For Kids.
In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more.
Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.
The Boys & Girls Club of Redlands was re-established on August 30, 1967. We us "re-established" because we really are not sure how old the Redlands Club actually is - we know there are some national awards that were recieved in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
The Club is goverened by an all volunteer Board of Directors who set strategic goals and long-term planning for the organization.
The Club has trained, professional staff that lead the day-to-day operations of the organization.
History
The Boys Club of Redlands was re-founded in August of 1967. We use the term “re-founded” due to documents from our National Office that date back to the mid-forties and early fifties. Because of these documents, we believe that the Redlands Club was established for a period of time, and for some unknown reason folded, only to rise again on the 30th day of August 1967.
The re-founding Board was comprised of a group of businessmen concerned with the less advantaged youth – primarily Hispanic boys from the northside. The Board of Directors were of Walker Smith, Jr., Lee Guggisberg, Robert H. Mitchell, Victor E. Miller, Dean O. Garvey, Edward F. Taylor, Norman Martinez, and James Sloan. Mr. Sloan became the first president of the Board and Gerry Smith was hired as the first Executive Director.
An old packing house located 1125 North Sixth Street was renovated and the doors were opened for youth programs on December 14, 1967. The Club served an average of 300 members yearly, with peak years reaching nearly 500. By early 1978, the Club was outgrowing the Sixth Street Clubhouse. Working with United Way and the then House of Neighborly Service Board, the Club was able to move to the empty facility located at 612 Lawton Street. The re-opening was made in the spring of 1979, with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Redlands Councilwoman Barbara Riordan.
In January 1987, the Presbytery of Riverside, owners of the land at 612 Lawton, expresses their intentions to sell the land. With immanent loss of the Lawton Clubhouse, the Club looked to establish an outreach site to conduct programs. After talking to the Redlands Unified School District, it was agreed that putting programs at Franklin and Mentone Elementary Schools would benefit the Club and the School District. The Club would have sites to hold programs if their Clubhouse was sold and still serve the needy northside youth. The outreach program won an award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In August of 1998, the Board of Directors approved the change in the name of Club to reflect its expanded service to girl members. The Club filed its amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the State Secretary, to become the Boys & Girls Club of Redlands.
The City of Redlands sought to preserve the history of the House of Neighborly Services and an appeal was put to the Presbytery of Riverside to convert the use of the House into a center for homeless, which was within the mission of the Presbytery. The plan was accepted and the property was saved. However, the re-use plan necessitated the use of the entire facility and when renovation was started in 1990; the Boys & Girls Club of Redlands was asked to leave.
The Club's Board of Directors decided to continue their outreach programs at Franklin and Mentone Schools. They also expanded and opened a site at the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino's community center located on Lugonia Avenue. The School District, under pressure to provide licensed extended day care at their schools, recinded the Club's permission to hold programs at Franklin and Mentone Schools. By early 1991, the outreach programs at the schools ended, leaving only the Lugonia Site for Club programming.