Our Vision

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne serves kids aged 6-18 from high-need areas. Every day after school, our Clubs offer a safe and supportive environment to hundreds of children and teens. In 2019, our new Club facility on Fairfield opened to serve even more! BGCFW members participate in impactful programs focused on academic success, good character and citizenship, and health lifestyles.

Our Impact

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has established a “Great Futures Vision” which starts with a world-class Club Experience. Our goal is to have all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for their future, involved in the community, and living a healthy lifestyle. The statistics from our priority outcome areas demonstrate the immediate and lasting impact on the boys and girls who participate in our programs.

100%

of our club members expect to graduate from high school.

93%

of our members perceive school as important.

84%

say that they have a sense of belonging when they come to the Club.

Our History

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne was started in 1989 by a small group of community leaders who felt the city of Fort Wayne needed a safe, accepting and positive place for children and teens to go after school and in the summer. Rudy Mahara, founder of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne had moved from Lafayette, Indiana where he saw firsthand the value of the club. Since Fort Wayne was the largest city in the country, at that time, that did not have a club, Mahara gathered people and resources to start a small club at 1309 Minor Street in Fort Wayne. With the help of Tom Kelley of Kelley Automotive and several others, the club opened to both boys and girls and became the first club in America to transition from the boys-only Boys Club to include girls which bears its name today.  

On opening day, the first Executive Director, Duane Hinshaw, found a long line of kids waiting for the club to open. The club on Minor Street contained only three rooms; used as offices during the day and for member programs after school.

The club has grown from under 100 members to the 2270 members the club serves today. Although the number of members, staff and program choices have grown, the focus is still the same: to give Fort Wayne youth a fun, safe and positive place to grow into happy, successful adults.

The club moved from Minor Street to 2609 Fairfield Avenue in 1994 and a gymnasium was added to the existing building. It was the first and very successful capital campaign for the club. 

In May 2019, we re-opened our Fairfield Club with a brand new 42,500 sq. ft. facility and now serve 500 members each day!