ENRICHING LIVES SINCE 1996

---

Our programs have been enriching the lives of toddlers, youth, adults, and seniors in Geneva for over 25 years! 

Our first site opened on Goodman Street in 1996. Six years later, we opened a Teen Center on Castle Street. In 2009, the Geneva Community Center opened its doors at 160 Carter Road in Geneva. Rev. Jim Gerling, Mark Venuti, and John Blume founded the Center, and their leadership, support and commitment helped shape its early development. Contributions from Dave & Brenda Rickey and Dr. Dan Alexander helped make the center a reality, and Senator Mike Nozzolio played a major role in securing state funding and legislative support for the center’s construction. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as we know it today, dates back to 1860. Though its history spans generations, its core mission remains steadfast: to provide a safe, affordable place for young people to build skills and healthy relationships during non-school hours and during the summer. Clubs are community-based, building-centered, and led by paid professionals trained in Youth Development.

The Boys & Girls Club movement started in Hartford, Connecticut, when three sisters - Elizabeth Hamersley, and Mary and Alice Goodwin - took note of boys roaming the streets with little guidance or opportunity. Together, they founded the Dashaway Club, the first known Boy's Club, to offer mentorship, structure, and character development. In 1990, the organization officially became Boys & Girls Clubs of America, recognizing the vital role girls play, and ensuring equal access to its programs. 

Since the day we opened Boys & Girls Club of Geneva, our programs have been building skills, confidence and friendships that last a lifetime. In fact, some of our employees are graduates of our children's programs!