Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama is one of the most successful non-profit organizations in Central Alabama. For 107 years the Club has shaped the lives of thousands of children, helping each one discover his own worth and potential, regardless of circumstances.
At the turn of the 20th Century, Birmingham was a growing hub of industry. The city’s mines and mills made way for a new saloon industry. Soon young boys, many who were orphans, congregated around the saloons, hoping to earn a little extra money selling newspapers. Then in 1901 a group of concerned women came together to find a way to help these “newsboys” grow into responsible men. That was the beginning of the Birmingham Boys Club, located in the old Birmingham City Hall and salvation to forgotten and neglected boys
In 1906 the leaders of the Birmingham Boys Club met with the leaders of 52 other Boys Clubs from across the country to form the Federations of Boys Clubs which is now the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Through the years, Birmingham Boys Club enjoyed great community support and was able to build its own facilities. Two major events marked 1924. First, our Club was honored as one of the agencies to receive the very first checks issued by United Way of Central Alabama, then known as Community Chest. In that same year, we built our first facility in downtown Birmingham.
Local businesses and individuals rallied around the Birmingham Boys Club. Birmingham Water Works supplied land along the Cahaba River for a summer camp, then in later years, land along Smith Lake was donated for a new camp location by Mr. Jimmy Goodwin. Our partnership with Community Chest continued to grow, our programs increased and the disadvantaged boys of Birmingham grew into self-sufficient young men.
Thousands of children and many successful years later, in the early 1970s, the Club relocated to a new facility in the Central Park Area of Birmingham. But no matter what geographical changes were made, the founding mission stayed true – to offer the youth of the city an alternative to the streets.
By 1980, it was time for the Club to expand its leadership and scope of activities. Tom Cleckler, a local coach, teacher, and school administrator, was brought in by the Board of Directors to lead the organization into new growth. During these 26 years, the face of Birmingham Boys Club has changed dramatically. With the generous support of the community, the Birmingham Boys Club has expanded from one location to 9: 2 full-service hub locations in Hueytown and Clay/Chalkville, 4 Clubs serving public housing communities, 3 Clubs housed by schools or city recreation centers. In 1990, the Club changed its name to Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama to reflect an expanded mission that included serving girls. The Club conducts outreach programs in cooperation with local schools, breaking geographical barriers and allowing children access to academic help and character development activities through our Bubba Bear Program and Homework Helpline.