About | Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio

1948

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, then called the Westside Boys Club, was founded to give boys from the Franklinton and Hilltop communities a safe alternative to hanging out on the streets.
1955

Columbus’ second Club, the Milo-Grogan Boys Club, opened on Cleveland Avenue to serve youth from the Milo-Grogan neighborhood.
1970’s

The Westside and Milo-Grogan Boys Clubs began allowing girls to join as official members.
1990

The organization officially changed its name to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus. 1990 also marked the completions of the Westside Club renovation creating a 12,000-square-foot teen center.
2008

Milo-Grogan rennovations were completed adding important amenities like air conditioning and separate program spaces for juniors and teens.
2010

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus entered into a partnership with KIPP Journey Academy to serve an additional 200 youth at the KIPP-Connect Boys & Girls Club.
2013

The Ohio Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs received a state grant allowing Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus to open the R.I.S.E. and South Side Boys & Girls Clubs.
2014

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus partnered with Homeport Ohio to open the Pheasant Run Club and Metro Early College Middle School to open the UA/Metro Club.
2016

The Westside Boys & Girls Club relocated from Franklinton to the Hilltop neighborhood to better serve youth and was renamed the J. Ashburn Jr. Club.

Older teens with an optimal Club experience are 40% more likely to be on-track to graduate from high school.
In 2018, Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus served over 5,000 youth.
54% of alumni said the Club saved their life.
Graduating Club members are twice as likely to be interested in STEM careers than their peers nationally.
$1 invested in Boys & Girls Clubs equates to $9.60 in economic benefits to the individual and society.

The positive impact the Clubs have on youth in Central Ohio is impossible to ignore. Great Futures Start HERE!

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