History

The Past, Present and Future of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana

How did it all get started? In 1970, the Sertoma Club and Jaycees joined efforts, along with interested business leaders from throughout Lafayette, and the “Boys Club of Lafayette” was born. The first “Boys Club” actually opened for business in June of 1970 at the Mudd Avenue Community Center (now named the Domingue Center). In its first year of operation, the Boys Club served approximately 100 boys, and the club remained in that location for eleven years. In 1981, the Boys Club purchased the Granberry Boys Club facility on S. Washington Street, and the organization changed its name to the “Boys Club of Acadiana.”

By 1983, the need for another club in Lafayette became apparent, and the Hagan Club began operations on Churchill Drive, just off of Johnston Street. Between the two Lafayette Clubs, the organization was providing youth development services to over 500 boys, but by the end of the decade, it was clear that girls needed a safe and positive after-school environment every bit as much as the boys. On January 1, 1990, the Boys Club of Acadiana became the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, and officially extended its services to girls.

Surrounding communities soon began to learn of the outstanding programs offered by the Clubs, and realized that a Club could make a significant impact on the children of their area. Abbeville was the first to call. A group of concerned and very active citizens in Abbeville rolled up their sleeves and began the daunting task of raising the funds necessary to operate a Club – even when they were warned it might not be possible in a town of that size, they persevered. In September 1990, the Vermilion Unit became the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana’s third site, and moved into its permanent home, the A.A. Comeaux Building in June 1992. Opening the Vermilion site increased the youth served by the organization to 1,500 boys & girls.

While the Granberry facility had been expanded and retrofitted to serve girls, the Board realized that the Hagan facility, while a wonderful location for a Club, was simply too small to adequately serve the number of children who wanted and needed to attend. The Board embarked on a capital campaign to raise the funds to construct a new facility, and the fundraising began. Meanwhile, leaders in New Iberia were determined to help the youth in Iberia Parish. Through a partnership with the Iberia Parish School Board and local government, the Iberia Boys & Girls Club became our fourth club site in July 1997 at the historic Bahon Gymnasium.

By 1999, the Board had raised approximately $1.2 million, and construction on the new Lafayette facility began. In 2000, the Jackie Club was opened on Marie Antoinette Street to replace the Hagan facility. The growth and expansion of the Iberia and Jackie Clubs meant the organization was serving nearly 3,000 at-risk children in Acadiana. Then in 2001, the Opelousas Housing Authority approached the Boys & Girls Clubs and a partnership was formed to provide Boys & Girls Club programs at their new youth facility. That same year, the Opelousas Unit was chartered as our fifth Club location, bringing the total youth served to nearly 4,000.

This rich history encompasses thousands of children and hundreds of staff members. When you ask a child about his Club experience years later, you are most likely to hear stories about a particular staff person, and something they said or did which impacted the child. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana has a reputation of excellence, and has experienced much success. Our teens have learned through the Club that they can be leaders, not only in their Clubs, but in their homes, schools, and communities. Acadiana has had several teens to be named Louisiana State Youth of the Year. These include Brent Royer, Courtney Heenan, Markeiya Polite, and Lamar Narcisse.

Courtney Heenan, of the Vermilion Club, went on to receive a $25,000 college scholarship from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation. Brent Royer went on to become not only the Southeast Region’s Youth of the Year, but the National Youth of the Year in 1990. He had the opportunity to meet with President George Bush at the White House, and speak about his experiences throughout the United States. Lamar Narcisse is currently an LSU student majoring in Business Administration and working part-time at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Baton Rouge, while Markeiya is completing her senior year at Howard University in Washington D.C.

Our future has never been brighter. The organization is poised for growth, and currently exploring opportunities in Acadia parish. Any community can have a Boys & Girls Club – all it takes is volunteers dedicated not only to working hard to establish the Club, but to sustain it, ensuring that the safe-haven created will continue to open its doors daily to the children who need us most.

News

Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana provides a quality developmental program that empowers Acadiana’s youth, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to become productive adults.