Olivet Boys & Girls Club has been serving the youth of Reading and Berks County since 1898 when William McCormick started the first club in the Olivet Presbyterian church. The social issues that McCormick saw back then-- namely, the need to provide safe, supervised activities for youth, are still relevant today.

For most of the Club’s history, we had units in two neighborhoods, Clinton Street and Mulberry Street, but during the 1990's the Club expanded into several new areas of the city. The Club currently operates 12 units in neighborhood-based facilities, public housing, Reading School District buildings, a former synagogue and most recently, the Dunn Community Center in Exeter, and the former West Reading Firehouse.

Each member of Olivet Boys & Girls Club is a shareholder in the organization, giving them a sense of ownership. Olivet Boys & Girls Club has grown to serve thousands of boys and girls throughout Reading, including a summer day camp in Hamburg, the PAL Unit and PAL Center for the Arts on Walnut Street. Overall, our services target at-risk children from diverse communities; 46% of our members are Hispanic, 26% are African American, 20% are multi-racial and 8% are Caucasian; 56% are male and 44% are female, and 84% of the youth we serve live at or below the national poverty level.

Today the Club provides diversified activities that meet the interests of all young people. Core programs encourage activities with adults, peers, and family members that enable kids to enhance self-esteem and fulfill their potential. Based on the physical, emotional, cultural, and social needs and interests of boys and girls, and recognizing developmental principles, the Club’s programs fall into five areas: Character and Leadership Development, Education and Career Development, Health and Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation.