On the West Side, our Martin Luther King, Jr. Club members are becoming scientists 🔬
What started as simple questions quickly turned into a full-blown science fair, with every hypothesis put to the test. Projects ranged from exploring the connection between music and heartbeats to building water filtration systems, blending real-life applications with hands-on learning.
Kids at our Ford Heights Club are so happy to have their Club back open, thanks to friends like you! Their favorite activity is art, especially when they get to be the canvas. 🎨
we were thrilled to join our friends at the Bartlett J. McCartin Boys and Girls Club for the 5th Annual Floor Hockey Tournament this weekend!🏒
the event also marked a major milestone with the unveiling of the final mural created as part of the Chicago Blackhawks Centennial Year Project, designed by Chicago-based artist Alyssa Low!
through a $3 million, 10-year investment, we're committed to working alongside @bgcchi to create opportunities for young people to engage in sports-based development and creative expression in neighborhoods across the city🎨
Happy Mother’s Day!
To all the moms and mother figures across Chicago, thank you for everything you do every single day. You are the heart of our communities, and we appreciate you today and always.
With love, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.
Time for a talent show!
On the West Side, our Club kids shined during the talent show at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Club. From dancing and gymnastics to singing and spelling, each performer gave it their all. The Club is a place for all kids to showcase their true passions.
Learn how to get involved at the link in our bio!
Our doors are always open at the Club.
CC’s Little Village Club recently hosted a Parent Night Open House, bringing families from the community together. Edgar, the Club Director, guided families through our vibrant spaces where children thrive every day.
At @bgcchi we celebrate family connections and strive to create a welcoming environment for everyone. We invite kids and their families from all over the city to visit our Clubs and experience the wonderful atmosphere firsthand!
Future chefs in the making 🍕
In Uptown, kids at the Pedersen-McCormick Club are learning simple, affordable recipes they can recreate at home.
Mini chefs Anaiyah and Danayla built their pizzas together. The kitchen quickly became a place filled with teamwork that goes beyond the kitchen.
Moments like these are where teamwork starts at the table and carries into everything they do.
The next generation of leaders 💙
At the 5th Annual Carol A. Walter Junior Youth of the Year Competition, we heard from eight incredible young people about what their Club means to them and celebrated their growth as aspiring leaders in their communities.
We are excited to announce that the 2026 Junior Youth of the Year is Kaylin! An eighth grader and proud member of the Linda and Bill Gantz Club, he has already made his mark as Torch Club president, serves as an assistant coach for the Club’s basketball team, and is currently fundraising to launch a podcast room to create a space for his peers to connect and find their voice.
Congratulations to Kaylin and all the incredible youth who inspire us every day and prove that leadership has no age limit.
Special thanks to the @nhlblackhawks for hosting us at the @blackhawksicecenter and helping make this celebration unforgettable!
A moment she’ll never forget 💙
After being named the 2026 Illinois State Youth of the Year, Olivia thought the celebrations were over, but her Club family had one more surprise waiting.
The True Value Boys & Girls Club showed up the way they always do, with love, pride and support, as they celebrated a young leader who gives so much to others.
For eight years, the Club has been Olivia’s second home. It’s where she found her voice and discovered her purpose. We’re so proud of you, Olivia!
This weekend, we celebrate our 2026 Carol A. Walter Junior Youth of the Year (JYOY) finalists!
JYOY gives our emerging pre-teen leaders the opportunity to be recognized while building a strong foundation for future success. Nominated by their peers and mentors, our finalists were selected for their strong character, leadership, and commitment to serving their Club and community.
Help our young leaders shine on stage and beyond. Donate today through the link in our bio!
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, friendships have room to grow 🌱
Zechariah and Style spent Earth Day at the Rusu-McCartin Club, learning about urban agriculture and how to care for the world around them.
Each left with a tomato plant in hand. Zechariah was already thinking about the best spot for his to grow, and Style was asking what he should grow next.
Moments like this stay with them. For Style and Zechariah, Earth Day was more than a lesson. It was something they experienced together, one plant at a time.
Thank you to the @chicagobotanic for helping make this experience possible!
Congratulations, Olivia — winner of the 2026 Illinois State Youth of the Year competition!
Just last month, she took the stage at Navy Pier as our Youth of the Year, sharing her story with courage. Now, she’s been named Illinois State Youth of the Year and is headed to the Midwest Regional competition, where she’ll represent Illinois and the more than 80,000 young people served by Clubs across the state.
Olivia found her voice at the True Value Boys & Girls Club, growing into a confident leader and role model. Today she’s not only telling her story, but she’s also helping other young people find the confidence to tell theirs, too.
Moments like this remind us of what’s possible when young people are supported and given the space to grow.
Join us in congratulating Olivia on this incredible achievement, and cheering her on as she takes the stage at regionals at the Midwest Youth of the Year in June!
