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
Be a part of our future and help build the next 80 years!