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Serving Albany & Rensselaer Counties
Club History
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area (BGCCA) has a long history, from a charter started in 1892, to the merger of the Albany and Troy Clubs in 2019, to the COVID-19 Pandemic response, and beyond.
BGCCA has continued to grow and meet the needs of our neighborhoods over the years. Today, the CLUB stands as a safe space for our youth and a vital resource for the greater community. Learn more about the individual Clubs and their respective impacts which are still felt today.
Five-Year Grant Award
2024
BGCCA received a five-year grant award of $11.4 million dollars from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services through its newly established initiative Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports (LEAPS).
This funding will enable BGCCA to launch after-school programs at new locations and expand the capacity at existing sites
Fire at Albany Clubhouse
2023
A fire broke out on the early morning of Monday, Oct. 9th at the Albany Clubhouse. The fire damaged both the outside rear wall as well as the kitchen, locker room and workout area. The building was closed at the time so no kids or staff were onsite and no one was injured from the event. The fire originated in the trash area behind the Clubhouse and spread quickly to affect the interior.
Thank you to Albany Fire Department for quickly extinguishing the fire. Thank you to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan for offering support. Special thanks to Come Connect Church, to the local services working on the restoration, and to everyone who helped in the process.
Food Program
2020
Within 48 hours, the output capacity of BGCCA’s food program more than doubled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. BGCCA went from serving approximately 1,100 meals to youth in afterschool programs each day to serving over 14,000 meals each week.
BGCCA distributed more than 750,000 free meals in the community during COVID.
Freight Farm
2019
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area (BGCCA), CDPHP, SEFCU, and Brown’s Brewing Company introduced Freight Farm, an innovative new way to fight food insecurity, teach children, and generate revenue through high-tech hydroponic farming.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area
2019
Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany and Troy Boys & Girls Club merged to become Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area. This merger brought together two strong organizations to become one of the region’s largest youth organizations.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area (BGCCA) serves Albany, Cohoes, Troy, Watervliet, and other community locations and provides 600,000 hours of programming each year.
2017
Boys & Girls Club of Albany adds 5 new after school sites after receiving Empire State After School funding.
2014
Boys & Girls Club of Albany adds 5 new after school sites after receiving 21st Century funding. Troy Boys & Girls Club licenses the Club as a catering site that now feeds up to 200,000 annually.
2011
Troy Boys & Girls Club receives a generous $2 Million donation.
2010
Community supports Boys & Girls Club of Albany through imminent bankruptcy.
2003
Troy Boys & Girls Club celebrates its centennial anniversary.
1998
Boys & Girls Club of Albany partners with the City School District to begin providing a Universal Prekindergarten program.
Learn more about our UPK Program.
1991
Troy Boys & Girls Club (TBGC) is officially re-incorporated and recognizes girls as "official” members.
1990
Movement officially recognizes the fact that girls are a part of our cause.
1987
Livingston Ave Boys Club closes permanently.
1966
Troy Boys Club allowed girls to attend specialized programming for the first time. Later that year, the main facility of the Club was dedicated in downtown Troy and continues to be used today.
1963
Albany Boys Club opens on Livingston Avenue.
From The Knickerboker News
ON THE DOTTED LINE - Fred Schroder, director of the Livingston Avenue Boys Club, signs up new members at registration day at the club. From left, front row, the youngsters are Peter DeNucci, Donald Baily, Frank DeNucci, and Robert Harlan; back row, Frank Bors, Richard Bradley and Fred Williams.
Frank DeNucci co-chairs our Club Alumni Group which you may learn about here.
Livingston Ave Boys Club
Boys Club of Albany
1956
50th Anniversary of the Movement.
Boys Club of Albany moves to 21 Delaware Avenue which is still in use today.
From The Knickerboker News
September 26: FIRST BOYS CLUB MEMBER - John Kearney, 262 Madison Ave., was the first in line to join the new Boys Club on Delaware Ave., Monday and received his membership card as Director Thomas C. Bender looks on. Watching proceedings are, from left, Robert Mezzaferro, Salvatore Duva, Phillip Carron and Michael Bossert.
John Kearney is still actively involved in the organization and currently sits on the Board of Directors.
1952
Rensselaer Boys Club is chartered by Boys Clubs of America. The Club officially opens on February, 1st, 1953. This Club is unaffiliated with BGCCA.
1944
Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club is founded. The Club is located on 4th Ave in Troy and is unaffiliated with BGCCA.
1936
Schenectady Boys' Club is founded by community leaders. It was originally located in a store on Front Street and now sits on Education Drive. This Club is unaffiliated with BGCCA.
1931
The Boys Club Federation of America changes name to Boys Clubs of America.
1906
Several Boys Clubs decided to affiliate. The Federated Boys Clubs in Boston was formed with 53 member organizations – this marked the start of a nationwide Movement and a national organization.
Troy Boys Club
1903
Troy Boys Club (TBC) became incorporated in 1903 and later became a member of the Federated Boys Clubs in Boston.
In recognition of being one of the 53 founding organizations of the Boys & Girls Club Movement, the Club was named a "Diamond Jubilee Charter.”
Boys Club of Albany
1892
Boys Club of Albany was chartered in Albany, NY.
Pictured is the Albany Boys Club at 113-115 Beaver Street, Albany NY, (building on the left).
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
1860
Boys & Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in 1860 with three women in Hartford, CT; Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley. Believing that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the The Good Will Club in Hartford, CT (pictured). A cause was born.
Boys & Girls Clubs annually serve nearly 4 million young people, through membership and community outreach, in over 4,100 Club facilities throughout the country and BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America:
City of Troy, NY
1664
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The area was first settled by the Mohican tribe who called the area Paanpack.
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It was settled by the Dutch in the 1630's and named Pafraets Dael after Kiliaen van Rensselaer's mother.
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The Dutch colony was taken over by the English in 1664.
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The area was renamed Troy in 1789 after the legendary city in Homer's Iliad.
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The town of Troy was incorporated in 1791 from part of the town of Rensselaerswyck.
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The town became a village in 1796 and a city in 1816.
City of Albany, NY
1624
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The first permanent settlement in Albany was established in 1624.
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The Dutch named the area Albany in 1664 after the Duke of Albany.
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The Albany Congress was held in 1754, where Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union.
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Albany became the capital of New York State in 1797.
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The Erie Canal and a railroad were built through Albany in the early 1800s.
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The telegraph, electric motor, and celluloid plastic were all pioneered in Albany.
The Future
While our achievements are extensive, we are committed to continue expanding our services to reach more children, wherever they may be.
With the help of individuals, corporations, and foundations who share our beliefs in the potential of every girl and boy, regardless of their circumstances, we look to the future with great optimism.
