This is a timeline from the
FFY (Foundation for Youth) website:
www.foundationforyouth.comHistoryThe
Foundation For Youth (FFY) was incorporated May 12, 1928, and since its inception has served:
The Boys Club
The Boy Scouts
Campfire Girls
The Girl Scout
The Girls Club
Columbus Youth Camp
Jive Kennel
Teen Court
Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Foundation For Youth has been one of this community’s most outstanding accomplishments – recognized as such the nation over.
We salute those forward-looking people who shared this dream and brought it to reality with intelligence, hard-work and open-handed generosity in terms of financial support and endless donations of time and talent.
The FFY stands today as a living memorial to what a small community can do on its own to ensure the well-being of its citizens.
1926
Boys Club of Columbus started.
Purpose was to improve the leisure time of area juveniles. First clubhouse located in Washington School at 724 Pearl St.
May 15, 1928
Incorporation papers filed creating Foundation For Youth.
May 12, 1932
Boys Club joins national organization Boys Club Federation of America.
January 23, 1935
The first Girls Club opened in Lincoln School building at 2nd. & Franklin St.
Dues 5 cents per month, for ages 8 – 21.
March 28, 1935
FFY accepts donation of 70 acres in Harrison Township from Q.G. Noblitt.
February 18, 1936
FFY receives $25,000 from federal government to develop Youth Camp. W.P.A. program develops trails, and dug lake.
1936
Youth Camp cabins donated by area civic groups: Kiwanis; Rotary; Elks; Chamber of Commerce; Business Professional Womens Family.
1936
Boys Scouts troop affiliates with F.F.Y.
June 8, 1937
Official dedication of Columbus Youth Camp with Indiana Governor Townsend in attendance.
1937
Columbus teachers finance erection of arts & crafts building at Youth Camp. Named in honor of longtime teacher Miss Lois Wetz.
1940
Youth Camp plants 10,000 pine and locust trees around athletic field and lake.
1943
Jive Kennel opens for area teenagers. Stays in operation until 1960. 1945
Girls Club moves to new clubhouse at 3rd. & Franklin St. The building also houses FFY offices, Jive Kennel, Girls Scouts. Building donated by Q.G. Noblitt.
May 9, 1945
Girls Club becomes charter member of national organization – Girls Clubs of America
December 22, 1947
Boys Club moves into new clubhouse at 5 th & Franklin (currently Columbus area Visitors Center). Ray Brown's family donated the facility.
1948
Youth Camp dedicates Joan Spies memorial.
May, 1953
FFY celebrates 25th anniversary.
Member organizations include: Boys Club,Girls Club, Boys Scouts, Girls Scout, Jive Kennel, Cub Scouts, Youth Camp, and Brownies.
1953
Mr. & Mrs. Ray Brown donates $10,000 towards construction of new Boys Club facility.
1953
Noel Genth named Youth Camp caretaker, and holds position until 1967.
1954
Eastside Boys Club and Eastside Girls Club opened on McClure Street.
1955
Youth Camp dedicates Carpenter chapel.
September 15, 1955
FFY board hires Paul Stacker (Columbus Parks & Recreation Director) as Business Manager, and Recreational Consultant.
1958
Lowell Engleking family donates 40 acres to Youth Camp.
August 7, 1959
FFY board names Paul Stacker as Executive Director. Holds position until retirement in 1982.
1964
FFY offices move to Donner Center.
December 5, 1965
Open House held for new Boys Club on Cherry Street, new gymnasium and swimming pool, and renovated Girls Club facility on McClure Street. FFY offices relocate from Donner Center.
1967
FFY becomes charter member of county United Fund (predecessor of United Way).
1967
Bob & Juanita Harden named Youth Camp rangers. Hold position until retirement in 1990.
1967
Boys Club names Eugene Gurthet as Executive Director. Holds position until retirement in 1989.
1968
Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts remove affiliation with FFY.
1969
Cummins Engine Co., and Cosco Corporation hold annual shareholders meetings at FFY.
1971
Boys Club membership at 1368 (2 nd. largest in state) and Girl Club membership at 783.
May, 1974
After Prom party for area high school students moved to FFY from Donner Center. 1300 students, and 200 parents attend the 25 th annual After Prom party in Columbus.
1974
Boys Club membership at 1557, and Girls Club at 1068.
May, 1977
Robert Hollenbeck, Boys Club Athletic Director dies. Biddy Basketball program Sportsmanship Award named in his honor.
1978
Arvin Foundation donates funds for 3,000 square foot dining hall, and kitchen addition to Noblitt Memorial Shelter at Youth Camp.
1983
Youth Camp boathouse renovated.
1989
FFY reorganizes. Boys Club, Girls Club, Youth Camp, and Foundation For Youth merged under a single Board of Directors. New organizational name is Girls Club/Boys Club/Foundation For Youth.
1992
FFY named changed to Foundation For Youth of Bartholomew County, Inc.
June, 1992
Youth Camp receives endowment from Aileen Marshall Graham fund.
1996
FFY assumes leadership and responsibility for the Children, Youth, and Families Initiative.
June 7, 1999
the current FFY facilities dedicated. A $5.5 million dollar capital campaign culminated with donors names etched in glass in FFY main lobby.
2003
Big Brothers big Sisters of Bartholomew County affiliates with F.F.Y.