Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield history

Nearly 40 years after the Ferry Street Settlement House was created, the Girls Club in 1940, under Maxine Keith’s leadership, obtained the first building in the country to be designed specifically for a Girls Club program at 343 Chestnut St, Springfield.

When the Sertoma Club was chartered in Springfield in 1941, the group agreed to assume responsibility for the program.

In the late 1950’s, Springfield’s east side was tough place for a child to grow up.

Chartered on November 1st, 1956, the Boys Club of Springfield set out to become the positive place for children in the area.

The facility in use today was built in 1960 on an historic piece of property at the intersection of 15th & Monroe.

At the Annual Meeting on May 8, 1961 the association members voted to change the agency name to the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Inc.

Since the existence of our present building in 1962, our club membership has grown by more than 500%. As experts in youth development, our professionally trained staff offers nationally-proven programs in a safe and accepting environment.

In 1963, the Girls Club was established by Genevieve Kynion.

In fact, in 1965 he was named Boy of the Year, the highest recognition a Club youth can receive.

The building on Chestnut Street remained open until June 1966 when the North End Renewal Program caused it to close its doors and the program was relocated at 100 Acorn St

In October 1967 the new Club opened on Carew Street and with it a new era, which now included girls.

In 1969, the need for a Boys Club program on the west side of Springfield became apparent.

Bernice Leslie was appointed to succeed Miss Keith as executive director, a position she held until 1973.

Continued growth lead to the establishment of a second Girls Club location in 1976, named the Merietta Mellers West Side Girls Club because of a generous gift by Mr.

Tom Hough, BGCS Club member became the Club's next Executive Director in 1983.

He also opened a special needs integrated School Age Program at Dryden Memorial Elementary School in 1991.

In 1992, the club became Boys & Girls Club of Springfield, recognizing that the girls in our community equally needed a safe place to grow and develop into responsible young women.

In 2002, the organization hired Patrick Gartland as Executive Director, having 28 years’ experience as an Executive Director.

The sixth Executive Director, Doctor Jean-Claude Gerlus, was appointed in March 2005.

In 2007, the Club officially changed its name to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois to represent our expanded service area.

Sarah Tsitso was then hired as the club’s seventh executive director in September 2011.

In 2013, Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield and Springfield Public Schools signed an agreement of partnership for the construction of a Club location inside newly built Sherwood Elementary School.

The school and adjoining club, located in the southwest area of town, opened in 2015.