Our History

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, then called the Westside Boys Club, was founded to give boys from the Franklinton and Hilltop communities a safe space to learn, grow and have fun.

Columbus’ second Club, the Milo-Grogan Boys Club, opened on Cleveland Avenue to serve youth from the Milo-Grogan neighborhood.

The Westside and Milo-Grogan Boys Clubs began allowing girls to join as official members.

The organization officially changed its name to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus. This year also marked the completion of the Westside Club renovation, creating a 12,000 square foot teen center.

Milo-Grogan renovations were completed adding important amenities like air conditioning and separate program spaces for juniors and teens.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus entered into a partnership with KIPP Journey Academy to serve an additional 200 youth at the KIPP-Connect Boys & Girls Club.

The Ohio Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs received a state grant allowing Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus to open the R.I.S.E. and South Side Boys & Girls Clubs.

The Westside Boys & Girls Club relocated from Franklinton to the Hilltop neighborhood to better serve youth and was renamed the J. Ashburn Jr. Club.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus expanded its reach to even more youth by merging with Boys & Girls Club of Marion County.

The Loella Hodges Reese Clubhouse opened to provide Newark youth a safe and engaging space after school and during the summer.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus officially changed its name to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, bringing its Columbus, Marion, and Newark sites under one name. In addition, the organization launched its Investing in Great Futures campaign to raze and rebuild its Milo-Grogan Clubhouse and provide sustainability for its mission for generations to come.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio closed its $13.5 million Investing in Great Futures Campaign at $15.3 million and opened the new Champion Companies Milo-Grogan Clubhouse. The organization also opened its first school-based high school Clubs at Africentric Early College and Northland High School, as well as its first before and after school site, River Valley, in Marion. Additionally, a $2 million grant from the City of Columbus kicked off expansion efforts into Columbus middle schools to support teens during this critical time in their development.