Orlando Boys Club Begins
Former Brooklyn Dodger Joe Stripp, one of the last “Spitballers” in the Major League, founded the Boys Club of Orlando to “provide healthful recreation for underprivileged boys.” The Club met in the old Davis Armory in Parramore, which still stands today across the street from our current Levy-Hughes Clubhouse.

Growth & Expansion
The Southwest Branch opens its doors at 5055 W. Raleigh Street. The organization’s name changes again to the Boys Clubs of Central Florida to reflect a planned expansion into Osceola and Seminole Counties.

Organization adds “Girls” to its Name
Although females had been members for more than 10 years, in 1988, the organization became Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida – adding “Girls” to our name two years before the Boys Clubs of America did!

Downtown Branch
This Club, located on the campus of the Coalition for the Homeless, was the first in the nation specifically founded to serve homeless youth.

Gary Cain becomes CEO
Gary Cain joined the organization as CEO. In 2019, our 75^th anniversary year, Gary celebrates his 25^th with BGCCF, making him the organization’s longest-serving president. A former Club member himself, Gary has served Boys & Girls Clubs his entire career of over 42 years.

Syd Levy
Orlando businessman and philanthropist Syd Levy provided the funding for two of BGCCF’s most important landmarks: the Syd & Marianne Levy Service Center (dedicated 2013) and the Levy-Hughes Club in Parramore (opened 2017), our largest Club. We mourned Syd’s passing in January, 2018.

BGCCF Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida celebrates 75 years of serving our community’s children! Read More >>

BGCCF Opens Bradley-Otis Family Branch
“A Club like no other” opened in Orlando’s West Lakes community. The Jacqueline Bradley & Clarence Otis Family Branch boasts 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art programming space, with separate floors for children and teens.