Since 1889, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has been a cornerstone of our community, offering vital programs to thousands of youths who see the Club as their second home. Our mission focuses on nurturing qualities that shape responsible citizens and future community leaders, especially among those who need our support the most.
“A new Clubhouse will build vital capacity, allowing the organization to go from 50 kids per day to 500 kids daily, and expand to age 18.”
-Mayor Joseph Petty
In the early 2000s, recognizing the limitations of our nearly 100-year-old Ionic Ave. Clubhouse, we took action to meet the evolving needs of our youth and families. This led to a transformative effort to construct a new Clubhouse in Main South, integral to the Gardner, Kilby + Hammond project, which aimed to build over 100 new low-income houses.
Thanks to a successful $10M capital campaign in 2006, our new doors opened, allowing us to triple our service capacity and expand our impact. Committed to empowering youth and shaping tomorrow's leaders, we're investing in additional Club sites in Plumley Village and Great Brook Valley, both low-income public housing areas with thousands of underserved youth and families.
Current Club site located at 180 Constitution Ave.
In January 2024, we expanded our program offerings thanks to Community Builders' generous offer of the Plumley Village high-rise basement. Following successful renovations funded by the Board of Director’s fund and private donors, our new space opened in July 2024 and now features a Kids Café, games room, education lab, and more, allowing us to increase our daily youth served from 35 to 100.
Our focus is now on Great Brook Valley, a community our Club has been a part of since 1993. Despite operating in a small building that once served as a fallout shelter, we have made a significant impact throughout the years by providing educational and recreational programming, emergency childcare, meals, case management, and acting as a learning hub during the pandemic. With over 1000 youth in Great Brook Valley, our current space only accommodates 50 youth a day. As the Worcester Housing Authority begins a 10-year plan to build a new apartment complex, we are excited to seize the opportunity to construct a Clubhouse that our kids can truly call home.
| Current Space | New Facility |
|---|---|
| 7,800 sq. ft. | 35,000 sq. ft |
| Does not meet all ADA requirements | All rooms in facility will be ADA accessible including swimming pool |
| Does not meet Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) safety requirements | Security of facility and program areas will meet all BGCA safety requirements |
| Currently serves 50 kids | Has the capacity to serve 500 kids a day, including teens |
| Consists of three converted classrooms, limiting our capacity and programs | A two-story facility designed specifically to meet the needs of today’s youth. |
| Unable to serve teens onsite | Has a teen/workforce development center on the second floor |
“If the Club is to fulfill its mission of helping Worcester’s children reach their “Great Futures,” it must expand its Great Brook Valley presence. Our communities need the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. I am fully behind the Club’s application to build a new Clubhouse in Great Brook Valley.”
-Senator Robyn Kennedy
Ensuring All Kids Have a Safe Place to Go
- No other youth-serving agencies in the area.
- A recent parent survey cited the Burncoat/Lincoln St. area as the top neighborhood that needs youth services.
- Great Brook Valley alone has over 1000 youth residents.
- Taking action to fulfill our mission of serving youth who need us most
- Leveling the playing field
- Eliminating transportation and access barriers
- Honoring and listening to youth voice
- Leading and working with our community towards innovative and sustainable solutions
The Heart of the Curtis Redevelopment Project
Rendering of the new Curtis Apartments in Great Brook Valley, a $178M project
The Worcester Housing Authority’s (WHA) Curtis Redevelopment Project in Great Brook Valley is set to transform the area with 527 modern units, including approximately 50 wheelchair accessible units for enhanced accessibility. The project will also feature expanded park and open spaces, creating a vibrant community hub.
Starting construction in late 2024 and spanning four phases until completion in 2032, the WHA redevelopment initiative promises a significant impact on the neighborhood. At the heart of this initiative, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester will construct a new 35,000 sq. ft. facility to serve more youth and broaden program offer-ings for teens and families. Once completed, the Club’s average daily attendance will move from 50 to 500 youth.
Join us in building a new state-of-the-art facility in Great Brook Valley to create a more equitable community. The Club aims to raise $37M to serve youth in Great Brook Valley and the Greendale area (Burncoat St., Clark St., Lincoln St., including Lincoln Village). Currently, the Club stands as the sole youth-serving organization in the area. The absence of afterschool and summer programs for many kids and teens in the area has resulted in safety concerns and limited access to life-changing mentor support as well as recreational and educational activities. Your gift will provide a safe space for them to learn, explore, and grow; a Club to call home. Additionally, we welcome volunteers to support our special events and serve on our capital campaign and facility committees.
For more information, please contact Liz Hamilton
