Our History

Since 1966, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast has been a leader in youth development programming and advocacy efforts for young people from high-risk environments within our two coastal counties. Our strategic vision is to assist Gulf Coast youth to live out their greatest dreams through the development of skills and competencies and keep 100% of Club participants on track for high school graduation, with post secondary plans. We accomplish this by using technology, adult mentors, and peer accountability. We will utilize a large core of quality volunteers to assist in delivering the programs and to help youth stay on course in developing their skills, goals and plans. 


Our organization was founded by Senator Tommy Gollott, Ronald Marion, and Bruce Stewart along with the Biloxi Jaycees over 50 years ago. We began as the Biloxi Boys Club, teaching fifteen young boys how to box. In the fifty years that followed, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast has grown into six Clubs along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We have produced several state and regional Youth of the Year winners and the 2005 National Youth of the Year, Jarvis McInnis.

Share by: