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BGCGSD History

A long and distinguished history as a leading youth non-profit organization in San Diego.

Over 80 years of CHANGING LIVES

1940’s

1941

William J. Oakes, the principal at Memorial Junior High School in Logan Heights, saw a great need for youth services outside the school setting. Working with top San Diego business leaders, Mr. Oakes was a key force behind opening the first Boys Club, later named the William J. Oakes Branch, which was built in Memorial Park in Logan Heights.

1948

National City Branch opens.

1950’s

1954

The Escondido Chief of Police, Lefty Mitchell and several business leaders start what was known as the Escondido Boys Club to provide a place where boys could gather for constructive activities after school.

1955

Linda Vista Branch opens.

1960’s

1960

The Soroptimist Club opens the Escondido Girls Club to serve the needs of girls.

1961

Clairemont Branch opens.

1970’s

1973

Boys Clubs of San Diego purchases a Safeway store and converts it into the Encanto Boys Club

1976

Child Development Program at Escondido (Mitchell) Branch opens

1978

Teen Center opens at the Escondido Boys Club

1980’s

1981

Escondido Boys Club merges with Escondido Girls Club to form the Boys & Girls Clubs of Escondido

1987

Boys Clubs of San Diego officially changes name to the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego

1990’s

1990

The Boys & Girls Club of Ramona opens

1992

The Boys & Girls Club of Escondido opens Baker Branch

1993

Valley Center Branch opens

1997

Project Outreach, a juvenile diversion program starts at the Escondido Branch

1997

Critical Hours Program starts in Escondido and Encanto

1998

Borrego Springs Branch opens

1998

Poway Branch opens in a trailer at the Meadowbrook Middle School

2000’s

2000

The Boys & Girls Clubs United was formed by the unification of Escondido Boys & Girls Clubs with the Ramona Boys & Girls Clubs

2002

Borrego Badlands Skate Park opens

2002

The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego merges with The Boys & Girls Clubs United to form the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego

2003

X-Track After School Program begins at North County Middle School

2004

Sulpizio Family Branch opens in Poway

2004

4S Ranch Branch opens near Rancho Bernardo/Penasquitos

2005

Received Honor Award for Program Excellence from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for Health & Life Skills Program

2005

Linda Vista Branch is rededicated as the Ron Roberts Family Branch in Honor of County Supervisor Ron Roberts

2006

A $1 million planned gift kicks off the Kid For Life Campaign

2007

Awarded $900,000 for the State of California to develop outdoor soccer park in Logan Heights

2008

BGCGSD completes a $7,581,257 capital campaign for improvements to metro San Diego Clubs

2009

The Boys & Girls Clubs of National City merges with the BGCGSD

2010’s

2010

SPARK Young Professionals Association is formed

2011

New Dance Studio opens at Escondido Branch

2011

New Arena Soccer facility opens at the Ramona Branch

2012

The James A. Bronner Family Branch opens in Valley Center. The new facility replaced the existing trailer

2013

Clairemont Resources & Training Center opens

2013

Named as the San Diego Chamber Non-Profit of the Year

2013

National City Branch renamed the Bob Payne Family Branch

2014

BGCGSD opens its first STEM Lab at the Ron Roberts Family Branch in Linda Vista

2015

Ramona Branch renamed Conrad Prebys Ramona Branch

2015

ECS Head Start Program opens at the Bob Payne Family Branch

2016

Mitchell Branch renamed Conrad Prebys Escondido Branch and Wilson Ball Field opens

2017

Claremont Education & Nutrition Center opens

2018

New Wing opens at Conrad Prebys Ramona Branch

2018

Implemented Summer With a Goal (SWAG) program to combat summer learning loss

2020’s

2022

BCGGSD opens four new afterschool programs in Escondido, Valley Center, Pauma Valley and Grant HIll

2022

New Wing opens at Conrad Prebys Ramona Branch

2023

BGCGSD named Fundraising Event of the Year by San Diego Business Journal

2024

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego honored with the HERO for Youth award by Boys & Girls Clubs of America

2024

Encanto Branch changes name to
Geneius Branch

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