Boys & Girls Club of McAllen

Our Mission

"The Boys & Girls Club of McAllen is dedicated to helping our community by mentoring youth to become productive and caring citizens, by providing nationally recognized programs in a safe and positive environment, through the support of caring and dedicated youth development professionals."


Since 1906, when the national organization was founded, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has worked with local communities to provide young people with a safe and stimulating place after school. Today, with over 4 million young people at 3,400 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, the Club is consistently listed as a leading youth organization. The Boys & Girls Club of McAllen began in 1966 through efforts led by Othal E. Brand Sr. in a high school gym with a budget of $200 and 400 boys. Today, we are one of, if not the fastest-growing Clubs in the nation. With five Traditional Sites, five Afterschool Alliance Sites, six 21st Century Sites, and an annual operating budget of $3 million, the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen has grown to meet the needs of our more than 10,000 members. Over the past 45 years, the Boys & Girls Club has been there to encourage, support, and stimulate thousands of young people whose other choices were the loneliness of an empty house or the risk associated with unsupervised activity. The Boys & Girls Club of McAllen is not simply a youth agency; we are a youth development agency. Every day, we offer youth members relationships with caring, professional staff members. Our programs have changed, and our network has expanded to keep pace with changes in our society and the evolving needs of our community. Today, as ever, our formula works. By giving children safe, affordable, fun alternatives to the streets and positive mentors, we are changing lives and building the future.

Boys & Girls Club of McAllen offers recognized programs in five Core Program Areas that closely align with the developmental needs of all young people:
• Character and Leadership Development
• Education and Career Development
• Health and Life Skills
• The Arts
• Sports, Fitness and Recreation

We also undertake specialized initiatives that cross over more than one program area and/or address the unique needs of special populations.

BGCM programs are designed to encourage Club members to realize various positive outcomes, a strategy for developing the “whole child.” In recent years, the Boys & Girls Club Movement has focused additional efforts on helping children and teens achieve in our three priority outcome areas of Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles.

Together, BGCA and Boys & Girls Club of McAllen follow the Formula for Impact as our roadmap for ensuring that young people have a positive, impactful Club Experience and, ultimately, achieve the important outcomes that lead them to great futures.

If you would like to volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, please submit a request through the engagement zone at UTRGV or visit www.volunteersotx.org.