Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) is a youth development organization founded in 1887 by Annabell Cook Whitcomb, who began by converting two basement rooms at Plymouth Church into a haven for local boys. It is now the largest youth-serving agency in the city of Milwaukee and the largest Boys & Girls Clubs in the nation. The organisation serves more than 20,000 young people a year through dozens of club locations across Greater Milwaukee, and employs nearly 500 full- and part-time staff.
Its programmes span academic, career and personal development. These include Academic Success, Career Development, Character & Leadership, College Access, Health & Well-Being, and Life & Workforce Readiness. The organisation also operates Camp Whitcomb/Mason in Hartland, Wisconsin, which offers summer camps, retreats and rental space for groups.
BGCGM describes its mission as empowering young people to realise their full potential as caring, responsible citizens. Work centres on providing safe spaces, mentorship and enriching experiences for youth in Milwaukee and the surrounding area. Further details are available at bgcmilwaukee.org.
