A Century of Impact: The History of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor has a rich and storied history dating back to the 1930s. As One of the oldest Boys & Girls Clubs in California, over the past eight decades, it has evolved and expanded its reach to positively impact the lives of countless young people in the San Pedro, Wilmington, and Harbor Gateway regions.
Local businessmen in San Pedro noticed that young boys hanging out on the streets were having a negative impact on their businesses. In response to this, the Civitan Club of San Pedro established the San Pedro Boys Club in 1937. This marked the beginning of the organization's commitment to providing positive alternatives for young boys in the community. The San Pedro Boys Club started gaining traction in the community. This unique space providing young boys with a safe and supportive environment to engage in constructive activities such as woodshop and boxing. After a significant rent increase, the Club began looking for a new site in 1942. Renovations begin at the Old San Pedro High School on 12th and Cabrillo where the San Pedro Club stands to this day. In 1965, the new San Pedro Boys Club is completed.
In 1994, girls were officially able to attend the Club. Recognizing the increasing participation of girls in the Club, its name was changed to the Boys & Girls Club of San Pedro. This change acknowledged the important role of both boys and girls in the organization's activities. And as more kids started to attend the Club, more program expansion was needed. In 2001,the San Pedro Teen Center was established, becoming the only full-time and fully dedicated teen program and facility in San Pedro. This expansion allowed the organization to cater specifically to the needs of teenagers in the community.
In 2002, the organization's impact expanded with the opening of the Port of Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, catering to youth in public housing units and low-income neighborhood surrounding the San Pedro Public Housing Community. In 2004, a pivotal moment arrived when the San Pedro and Wilmington Boys & Girls Clubs merged, forming the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. This strategic union created synergies to enhance support for local youth throughout the LA Harbor Community. The BGCLAH continued to thrive in the 2010s. In 2019, it added six more sites through a merger with the South Bay Boys & Girls Club, further cementing its presence in the region. And in 2020, the organization celebrated its 20th site, the Harbor Hills Public Housing Community Club, reaffirming its commitment to community youth. Currently, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor operates 23 Club sites throughout San Pedro, Wilmington and the Harbor Gateway region. Later this year, the BGCLAH will open it’s 24th site- the Cheryl Green Boys & Girls Club!
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of the LA Harbor: In response to the increasing demand and the needs of the youth we serve, the provides comprehensive programming in academic, arts and athletics for members, grades K-12. Today, BGCLAH is the largest private non-profit, daily service provider to at-risk youth in the Los Angeles Harbor area, operating programs at our seven Clubhouses year-round and providing after-school programming on sixteen school campuses.
For more information, see Home | BGCLAHarbor
Christina Chong | Director of Marketing & Communications
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor
christinac@bgclaharbor.org| 310.833.1322 ext. 288
