Who We Are
Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire and enable, through character development, all young people especially those from disadvantaged circumstances to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Boys & Girls Club Code
I believe in God and the right to worship according to my own faith and religion. I believe in America, the American way of life, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I believe in fair play, honesty and sportsmanship. I believe in my Boys & Girls Club, which stands for these things.
“We can not always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” ~ Frankin D. Roosevelt ~
Our History
Colonel Walker Taylor, a prominent Wilmington businessman and civic leader as well as an officer in the North Carolina Militia, had a vision for serving the troubled youth in the Wilmington area to give them opportunities to discover and develop their abilities. On February 14, 1896, Col. Taylor founded an all-boys club, which he aptly named the Wilmington Boys’ Brigade. The first meeting, held at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church, was attended by five boys.
The Club’s programs consisted of learning marching formations and drills, participating in track, basketball and baseball events, as well as a drama club, debate society and vocational classes. The Wilmington Boys’ Brigade also became a community staple for social events, holding events such as bazaars, plays and guest speakers.
By the early 1900’s the Club had more than 500 members and the need for a new building was imminent. In 1950, a new clubhouse was constructed on South Third Street. This facility was eventually designated the “Harry B. Register Unit” in honor of “Mr. Harry” who was the Brigade’s first physical director and was a member, volunteer or director for 79 continuous years. A second unit was built in 1972 in Sunset Park area and was named the “William H. Montgomery Unit” in honor of the first Executive Director and founder of the Brigade Senior Fraternity.
On June 14, 1987, a brand new 13,200 square foot facility was formally opened at its current location on Vance Street. By the early 1990’s, the Club had nearly 1,000 members, open to both boys and girls, and a new youth building was constructed and opened in 2001. In the year 2000 the Brigade Boys & Girls Club extended their services to our local area by expanding to Pender County. Today, more than 1,800 youth are served by the Brigade Boys & Girls Club.
