Boys and Girls Clubs
“Every kid in America deserves access and opportunities that support them in reaching their full potential.”
Their story
Boys & Girls Clubs of America began in 1860 when four women in Hartford, Connecticut: Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, Elizabeth Hammersley and Louisa Bushnell, founded the first Club to provide boys a positive alternative to the streets. Since then, the organization has focused on character development and helping young people reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to offering a world-class club experience that ensures every member is on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future. Members also demonstrate good character and citizenship and live a healthy lifestyle. The mission is rooted in the belief that every kid has what it takes. This fuels a commitment to safe, positive and inclusive environments for all youth and teens.
BGCA’s Specific Impact on Boys
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America drives massive, generational change by transforming how young boys navigate their emotional, social, and academic worlds. Through their specialized, nationwide push into universal trauma-informed care, the organization actively dismantles the toxic societal script that forces young males to suppress fear or externalize emotional pain as anger and aggression. Rather than demanding stoicism, BGCA’s dedicated gender-specific initiatives, such as the highly acclaimed Passport to Manhood program, explicitly teach adolescent boys how to label their feelings, practice active empathy, and navigate conflict peacefully.
By pairing boys with consistent, emotionally intelligent adult mentors, the Club replaces rigid peer pressures with deep social validation and foundational self-confidence. This emotional safety net acts as a catalyst across all areas of a child's development. It reduces toxic stress that creates learning barriers, improves classroom concentration, and fosters academic resilience. On the ground, the results are clear and life-changing. Internal public health tracking reveals that 90% of Club youth feel comfortable talking to a trusted adult at their site, and 4 in 5 report knowing how to calmly manage severe stress. BGCA equips young boys with the core mental health tools, emotional literacy, and community support they need to break destructive behavioral cycles and grow into self-sufficient, emotionally healthy adults.
"The Club saw leadership capabilities in me, and changed the direction of my destiny."
-Tommy, 2010 Wisconsin Youth of the Year
"I found my path through love. So many people have put their time and effort into me, and the club really improved me as a person. After becoming Youth of the Year, I saw how good it felt to be doing so many things that were positive, and it changed my entire outlook on life, on school, on everything."
-Anthony, 2016 Wisconsin Youth of the Year
"The Club is a place you can go, and the staff isn't just staff, they are like a family. They will treat you like an adult, and give you responsibilities to uphold...The club is a really great place to be, you get to have a lot of fun, there are opportunities to do multiple things, it's not just one activity all day."
-Bryce 2017 Boys & Girls Club of Door County Teen Youth of the Year
Why This Foundation Impacts Me
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America inspires me because they understand that protecting men's health must begin in childhood, before negative patterns can develop. Their work with young girls is impressive and deserves full recognition, but I chose to highlight this foundation in my men's health collection because of the deep, positive changes they bring to young boys. They work hard to break down toxic masculinity by replacing harsh social expectations with real emotional safety and support.
Programs like Passport to Manhood show how we can teach boys that understanding and sharing their feelings is a true sign of strength. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Passport to Manhood is a character and leadership program for boys ages 8 to 14, and sometimes for teens up to 17. It helps boys grow into adulthood through hands-on sessions, mentorship, and community service. The curriculum covers important topics boys face as they grow up. Sessions focus on character and ethics, like making good decisions, avoiding stereotypes, and learning about responsibility. Health and wellness topics include personal hygiene, conflict resolution, and building self-esteem. Life skills cover jobs, relationships, and understanding fatherhood. Mentorship connects boys with supportive adult male role models. Each boy gets a real "passport" to mark their personal growth. The program usually includes 14 sessions, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes, where boys can talk openly about their struggles, fears, and goals. It ends with a community service project, giving them a chance to give back.
By making trauma-informed care a key part of their mission and matching boys with caring mentors, BGCA offers a safe place where young men can heal, let go of harmful habits, and learn to handle their feelings. This well-rounded approach is essential for a boy’s healthy growth and development. It helps break down isolation early and prepares them for a happy, successful, and emotionally healthy future.