Our History
Why Organizational History Matters
The Boys & Girls Club of Burlington’s history is more than longevity—it is proof of sustained relevance, adaptability, and community trust.
For more than 80 years, the Club has responded to the evolving needs of Burlington’s children and families, adjusting its programs, practices, and priorities while remaining grounded in a consistent mission: providing a safe place, caring adult mentors, and opportunities for young people—especially those facing barriers—to succeed.
The organization’s earliest programs, including structured athletics such as boxing, reflected best practices of their time—using discipline, supervision, and positive challenge to support youth development. Over the decades, those strategies evolved into today’s evidence-based approaches focused on academic achievement, social-emotional learning, workforce readiness, and family support. This progression demonstrates the Club’s capacity to learn, adapt, and modernize, rather than remain static.
History also matters because it reflects deep-rooted community relationships. Generations of families have relied on the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington as a trusted partner during critical after-school hours, periods of economic instability, and times of crisis. This intergenerational connection strengthens program participation, family engagement, and long-term impact in ways that newer organizations often cannot replicate.
Finally, the Club’s longevity signals organizational stability and accountability. Funders can be confident that investments will be stewarded by an institution with proven infrastructure, experienced leadership, and a demonstrated ability to deliver outcomes over time.
The Boys & Girls Club of Burlington’s history matters because it shows that the organization is not only effective today—but built to remain effective tomorrow, adapting to new challenges while maintaining its commitment to the youth and families it serves.
1942 – The Founding of the Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington was founded in 1942 and moved into our current facility on Oak Street across from Roosevelt Park in 1953. Since then, our Club has been a vital resource for families in our community, helping to ensure that every child has a safe place to go when school gets out and over summer break.
For decades, we have hosted a wide variety of programs often associated with Boys and Girls Clubs across the country, including activities like basketball, baseball, swimming, kayaking, skiing, rock climbing, and many others. However, today our Club is much more than that, offering a range of programs designed to meet evolving needs in our community and empower young people to build a better future for themselves.
2009 - Early Promise is Created to Improve Academic Performance
Our Club members are incredibly intelligent and hardworking, but many face obstacles in life that can make it more difficult to succeed in the classroom. Our Club created the Early Promise academic improvement program in 2009 to ensure that these young people receive the support and guidance that will enable them to thrive in school. Through Early Promise, our educators begin working with Club members starting in kindergarten and continuing throughout high school graduation and beyond, helping these children and teenagers build the skills and develop the knowledge that will help them graduate from high school, achieve a post-secondary education, and go on to reach their full potential as adults.
2010 – The Club Creates Kid’s Café to Fight Hunger
In 2010, the Club created the Kid’s Café program in response to growing levels of food insecurity in our neighborhood. Through Kid’s Café, the Club serves meals and snacks to Club members at no cost to them or their families, helping to ensure that young people in our community have consistent and reliable access to healthy food. We partner with the Burlington School District to ensure that the meals and snacks we offer meet nutritional guidelines and adhere to dietary restrictions common in our community. We are proud to report that our Club now serves over 25,000 meals and snacks through this program each year, and that Kid’s Café is one of our most popular programs among Club members and their families.
2014 - The Club Creates the Academic Enrichment Center
In 2014, Club leadership partnered with the City of Burlington and the Parks and Recreation Department to lease a facility in Roosevelt Park, creating the Club’s dedicated Academic Enrichment Center. Recognizing the importance of expanding safe, family-friendly programming in the park, the City leased the space to the Club for $1 per year. Community leaders Bobby Miller and Bill Bissonette generously donated the resources and labor needed to complete renovations.
This collaboration marked a major milestone for the Early Promise program, providing Club educators with much-needed quiet space for homework support and academic programming while other activities continue at the Club. The Academic Enrichment Center has significantly increased the number of young people who can participate in academic improvement activities at any given time.
2014 – Tony Pomerleau and the Pomerleau Family Foundation Donate $1 Million to Create Our Scholarship Endowment
By 2014, the Club was seeing powerful results from the Early Promise program, but financial barriers still prevented many young people from considering post-secondary education. For teens from families struggling to meet basic needs, the prospect of taking on college debt often felt risky—or simply impossible. Even students with strong academic potential and determination viewed college as out of reach.
That same year, Tony Pomerleau and the Pomerleau Family Foundation made a transformative $1 million founding gift to establish the Club’s scholarship fund. Revenue from this investment is used exclusively to support Club members attending college, helping cover tuition, textbooks, and essential living expenses. Each summer, the Club celebrates scholarship recipients at a joyful award ceremony that honors their achievements and shows younger members that college is an attainable path.
Mr. Pomerleau passed away in 2018, but the Pomerleau Family Foundation continues to support the Club and the youth we serve. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and the lasting impact of their commitment to our community.
2025 – Renovating the Club’s Pool
With Burlington’s proximity to Lake Champlain and other waterways, ensuring every young person has access to swimming and water safety skills is essential. Each year, more than 120 children and teens build confidence in the Club’s pool—while creating joyful summer memories.
After decades of heavy use, the aging pool required increasingly costly repairs. In 2025, the Club received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to complete a full renovation, transforming the space into the Joyce McEntee Community Pool, named in honor of a beloved longtime staff member who inspired generations of Club youth. The renovation was made possible with the close support of Senator Peter Welch’s office, whose staff helped the Club navigate the federal grant process.
By investing in safe, accessible recreation, the Club continues its commitment to helping every young person be safe, healthy, and prepared for life.