“A Legacy of Success”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County, Inc. is a private non-profit, non-sectarian youth serving agency, affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. We are the largest facility-based, full time, professionally staffed youth development organization in Union County. The Club has a rich and successful history of servicing children for 50 years.
The Club is self-sustaining through the efforts of the Board of Directors. The Boys & Girls Club employ a core of career professionals, including 30 full time, 55 part time and over 200 volunteers, who are trained to provide leadership via the National approach of informal guidance.
The Club had its beginnings in the Township of Union in 1955, initiated by a small group of business leaders.
In 1962, the P.A.L. and the Boys Club combined and set out to build the present Union Club facility. In 1965 the building on Jeanette Avenue was opened. In 1966 the organization was chartered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which now has over 3400 affiliates throughout the United States.
In 1979 the Boys Club of Union, Inc. merged with the Girls Club of Union, Inc. and became the Boys & Girls Club of Union,Inc., maintaining membership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
In 1980, Russell Triolo is named Chief Executive Officer of the merged organization.
In 1992, the name and service area of the organization was changed from the Boys & Girls Club of Union, Inc. to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County, Inc. We expanded our service base to include youth in Elizabeth.
In 1996, the organization in cooperation with the Elizabeth Recreation Department and the City of Elizabeth conducted programs at City owned recreation center facilities.
Since 1997, the organization has raised funds for and built three advanced training and learning centers within its facilities. The Boys and Girls Club has garnished numerous, national and international awards for its curriculum development under the iCE (information, Communication, Education) banner.
In March 2000, the organization started an after school program in four schools in Roselle, New Jersey and established a full service Club in the City.
In September 2001, with the assistance of the City of Plainfield, the organization purchased an 11,000 sq. ft. facility that serves as the permanent home of the Boys & Girls Club in Plainfield.
In November 2004, in collaboration with the Borough of Roselle Park, the organization through a 5 year management agreement started providing year round progams at the newly constructed recreation center on Chestnut Street. The Roselle Park Club has been established as a full service Club.
In September 2009, in collaboration with the Hillside Board of Education, the organization began providing after school youth development services to children at two elementary schools.
