OUR HISTORY
"It is not true; that many a boy is bad because the best part of him has never developed? It is not that a newsboy is so much worse than other boys, but simply that the other half of him didn't get a chance."
--John E. Gunckel; Boyville , 1905
A Rich History of Serving Toledo Youth for 130 Years
Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo has been serving youth since 1892. It is one of the original 53 Clubs that now make up the more than 4,000 Club Federation of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
December 25, 1892
John Gunckel, a local businessman, invited 102 rowdy downtown newspaper boys to a Christmas dinner. With the support of local newspapers and several prominent businessmen, he helped the boys organize the Toledo Newsboys Association
1906
National Federated Boys Clubs formed Toledo Newsboys Association is one of the 53 founding Clubs which started the national movement
1942
The Toledo Newsboys Association officially changed the name to Boys Club of Toledo in alignment with the affiliation with Boys Clubs of America
June 1982
The organization expanded its services to girls. The initial program offered activities one day a week. The pilot was a success and over 3,000 girls joined that year.
1985
Organization was renamed the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo.
2006
The Clubs partner with Toledo Public Schools (TPS) to transition programming directly within 3 TPS buildings
2020
The Clubs partner with First Tee & ProMedica to build a first of its kind joint location with golf facilities