Our Story

Our Story Boys & Girls Clubs of America began in 1860. In Hartford, Connecticut, Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley believed the boys roaming the streets should have a positive alternative, so they organized the first Club. Character development was the cornerstone of their work. The Club focused on capturing the interest of the boys, improving their behavior and increasing their personal expectations and goals.

The Clubs recognized that girls also needed a safe and positive place to go after school. So in 1990, Clubs re-opened their doors as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The Boys & Girls Club of Leflore County (BGCLC) began in 2008 supported by partnerships with local schools. November 8, 2017, our Club was able to open its own facility open youth ages 6-18 in Poteau.

Currently, BGCLC has a unit in Heavener public schools and a unit in Poteau at a leased facility. We are in the process of purchasing a building near downtown Poteau. We hope to renovate it and open it in the next two years. We also hope to expand to additional locations in Leflore County. If you or someone you know is interested in starting another unit in our county, please contact us.