About Us
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula serves more than 5,000 youth on the Virginia Peninsula and surrounding communities. We provide boys and girls with an inclusive and safe place to learn and grow, foster ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, and offer life-enhancing programs and character development experiences. We prepare them for their futures with career goals, and we give them hope and opportunity in their present lives. Our locations across the Peninsula in Newport News, Hampton, York, Gloucester, James City, and Mathews give youth in multiple communities access to a Club.
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
OUR HISTORY
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula was established in Newport News, Virginia in 1946, consisting of two Clubs – the “Hampton Roads Boys Club of Newport News” for black youth and the “Boys Club of Newport News” for white youth. In 1965, the two Clubs extended their reach and were merged with the “Citizen’s Boys Club” of Hampton, Virginia. Nationally, the Clubs began accepting girls in 1990, officially becoming the Boys & Girls Clubs. With the goal of increasing opportunity for youth in the area, the Peninsula Clubs merged in 2004.
Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula (BGCVP) serves more than 5,000 youth in the areas of Newport News, Hampton, James City County, Gloucester County, York County, and Mathews County. Our After-School and Summer Programs offer members life-changing opportunities year-round as we continue our mission to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
Built on five core programs – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula creates opportunities in the areas of education, health and wellness, leadership and service, sports and recreation, and the arts. Caring adult mentors engage with members through world-class programs emphasizing emotional and physical safety. Provided with hot meals, Wi-Fi, school supplies, supervision, and more, members are given the tools necessary to succeed.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula has been recognized for its successes both locally and nationally – winning the Top Performing Board Award in the Southeast Region most recently in 2018. BGCVP also received the Alliance of the Year Award from the Virginia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs in 2019.
History based on The Virginia Pilot editorial, “Opinion: Boys & Girls Clubs Make a Difference in Hampton Roads” by longtime Board Member and previous Board Chair, Dr. Helmuth “Chip” Trieshmann.
Making a Difference Across the Peninsula
Sense of
Belonging
%
Sense of Belonging
96%
of members feel that they belong, people listen to them, and their ideas count at the Club.
Emotional
Safety
%
Your Title Goes Here
96%
of members feel respected by staff and other kids, and believe that Club rules about how to treat each other are followed.
Adult
Connections
%
Your Title Goes Here
98%
of members believe that there is a staff member in the Club that cares about them and what is going on in their lives. Club staff believe in and encourge them to be successful.