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History
With 70 years of rich history, Boys & Girls Clubs
of Hancock County (BGCHC) has a long-standing reputation for delivering
effective, quality programming in a safe, caring and welcoming
environment. What remains constant is our focus on mission and our
ability to guide youth towards a positive future as productive and
responsible adults.
BGCHC's first Club was founded in Greenfield in
1938. The annual report from that year describes "carpentry, printing
and painting" as the core programs for our members. Today, BGCHC
operates Clubs in Greenfield and Shirley — and serves over 4,000
children and teens. Our programs address crucial youth development needs
in the areas of education, the arts, life skills, leadership and
character development, technology, and sports, fitness and recreation.
BGCHC will remain relevant into the next century
through innovation, reach and impact, and by always focusing on its
mission.
Historical Timeline
|
1938 |
James
Whitcomb Riley Foundation for Youth opens. |
|
1952 |
Greenfield
Boys’ club constructs a new facility on North Howard Street next
to Riley Park. |
|
1954 |
Marvin
“Fletch” Fletcher becomes the first full-time Executive Director
of the organization.
Greenfield
Boys’ Club builds a gymnasium to the existing facility. |
|
1956 |
Fletcher
passes away while participating in an activity on the baseball
diamond that is eventually renamed “Fletch Field”.
Winfred
McFerrin becomes the second full-time Executive Director of the
Greenfield Boys’ Club. |
|
1964 |
McFerrin
resigns and the board hires Jim Andrews (a club alumnus) as the
third full-time Executive Director of the organization. |
|
1972 |
Girls
programs are directed at the Greenfield Armory. |
|
1985 |
Girls are
admitted to all Clubs as full members, and the organization's
name is changed to Boys & Girls Club of Hancock County. |
|
1987 |
Unit
Director Ron Horning and KNM Keystone Club president, Darren
Turner, represent BGCHC by serving on the steering committee for
the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s National Keystone Club
Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. |
|
1988 |
Horning and
Turner represent BGCHC, for a second year, by serving on the
BGCA National Keystone Club Conference steering committee in San
Francisco, California. |
|
1989 |
Andrews
retired after 24 years of service as Executive Director and the
board promotes Ron Horning to Executive Director, the fourth
full-time in that position. |
|
1995 |
Fortville
outreach program opens up in the basement of the Fortville Lions
Club facility in Memorial Park and the organization's name is
changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County. |
|
1997 |
Fortville
Lions Club building demolished and new BGCHC - Fortville Unit
(as on record with Boys and Girls Clubs of America) building is
opened.
Boys and
Girls Club of Hancock County facility in Greenfield is renamed
the Greenfield Unit to coincide with addition in Fortville. |
|
2000 |
A separate
facility is opened for teens only next door to the Greenfield
Unit and named the “Overtime” Teen Center, with a unit
classification by Boys and Girls Clubs of America. |
|
2003 |
Due to lack
of teen participation, the “Overtime” Teen Center closed its
doors and the facility was leased to I.C.A.P. |
|
2004 |
Horning
retired and former BGCHC Youth of the Year and alumnus, Darren
Turner, is promoted to be the fifth full-time Executive Director
of the organization. |
|
2005 |
The Shirley
outreach program is born and directed out of the Shirley
Community Center. |
|
2006 |
A renamed
Shirley Extension is placed on record at Boys and Girls Clubs of
America. |
|
2007 |
BGCHC wins a
Silver Award for marketing and communications of Auto Fest ’06
by Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
BGCHC’s 2006
“Day for Kids” program is one of six organizations nationwide
that was prominently displayed on Boys and Girls Clubs of
America’s Centennial website. |
|
2008 |
Retired
Executive Director Jim Andrews passes away and the board renames
the Greenfield Unit the Jim Andrews Unit in his honor.
The closing
and sell of the Fortville Unit facility occurs after a few years
of financial difficulties and low membership. |
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