Mission
To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Vision
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County will be recognized as the premier youth development organization within the county. By September 2011 we will be serving 1,900 youth in 3 locations. They will be in Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere and will serve 400-450 kids daily during the school year and 450-500 daily during the summer. The Fellsmere clubhouse will be 8,000 square feet and the Vero Beach clubhouse will 13,500 square feet, which will also house our administrative offices. In addition, our objective is to serve another 600 youth annually through our Youth Volunteer Corps program and Teen Center in Vero Beach, and 1,200 more through outreach programs, for a total of 3,700 youth served.
History
In 1860, two women, concerned about the growing number of young boys hanging out on the streets of Hartford, Connecticut and often getting into trouble, decided to do something about it. They believed that if the boys had a fun and safe place to go they would have a much better chance of growing into productive adults. And so, they opened the Dashaway Boys Club in one of their homes. It was the start of something that would become the Boys Clubs of America and ultimately the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. More than 147 years later, the ladies’ simple premise could not be truer. The landscape has certainly changed. The reasons children are left alone have changed along with the Club locations. But the need has not. Much like those two women in 1860, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County, an affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, started with a small group of men and women who believed children can and will flourish if they are offered opportunities in a safe, fun and educational haven during non-school hours.
LOCAL HISTORICAL MILESTONES
• In November 1999, guided by the efforts of Gordon Anderson, a steering committee gathered to formulate the foundation of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County.
• On February 4, 2000, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County was incorporated.
• In June 2000, the first board meeting was held and Ken Felten was elected as Board President.
• In August 2000, the first paid professional, an Executive Director, was hired.
• In November 2000, the first clubhouse opened, located at Thompson Elementary School in the southern part of the county.
• On December 7, 2000, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County became an official member affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• In January 2001, the Club became a member agency of the United Way.
• In April 2001, the Club moved from Thompson Elementary to a 3,000 square foot leased facility located in the South County at 683 27th Avenue.
• In December 2001, the Club opened its second branch, a 4,800 square foot rented facility, located at 250 Sebastian Boulevard, in the city of Sebastian.
• In April 2002, Jay McNamara was elected as Chairman of the Board and continues to serve in that capacity today (2009/2010).
• In July 2002, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County officially adopted the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) program, a program originally founded by the Junior League.
• On January 10, 2005, Ronnie Hewett was hired as the Club’s President & CEO.
• On April 10, 2005, the Club was given the use of a building called the “Little House.” It is used as the YVC headquarters and Teen Center, located at 1846 18th Avenue in Vero Beach.
• On May 1, 2005, construction began for Phase I of the new Sebastian Branch located at 1415 Friendship Lane. Land for this facility was donated by the City. The Club opened on January 26, 2006.
• On May 15, 2006, the Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Fellsmere to begin plans for a new club there, which is scheduled to open in September 2010.
• On March 26, 2007, based on favorable results from our Feasibility Study, the Board of Directors voted to move forward with a Capital Campaign.
• On November 5, 2007, launched a Capital Campaign.
• On February 21, 2008, signed a lease agreement with the City of Fellsmere.
• On August 12, 2008, signed a lease agreement with Indian River County.
• Today, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is the fastest growing not-for-profit youth development organization in Indian River County.
