First Born

Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin serves over 8,000 youth through registered membership and community outreach each year in three different communities: Baraboo, Reedsburg and Tomah. Two of the three communities held their own organizations at one time, but joined forces to reach more kids. Here is a little more about our journey.

The Boys & Girls Club of the Tomah Area was founded September 2000 at 105 West Milwaukee Street. The Club received a great discount on the purchase of the building, which was the former Tomah Clinic, from Jean Mubarek. Jean and her husband, Dr. Jameel S. Mubarak, started the Tomah Clinic in the 1950s, which later became the Mubarak Clinic. 

The Boys & Girls Club of Tomah started “The Club” Teen Center October, 2005 at 1102 Superior Avenue. The facility was leased for $25.00 per usage to hold high school dances every Saturday night. The Boys & Girls Club chartered “The Club” Teen Center as an extension December 2006 and increased hours to 3 days per week. The Boys & Girls Club purchased the building at 1102 Superior Avenue October 2007 and in September 2008 “The Club” Teen Center opened to youth Monday through Friday with special events on Saturdays.

Future Partner Emerges

Meanwhile, just sixty-miles southeast of Tomah another Club was being born. As a volunteer with a program that helped Sauk County children from troubled homes, Arline Beagan quickly realized that there was something missing from the lives of many of the youths she worked with on a daily basis. "I noticed a definite need for kids to have a place to go after school," Beagan said. With the help of others, Beagan started a Baraboo-based Boys & Girls Club to serve Sauk County children. The Boys & Girls Club of Baraboo/Sauk County was founded in September 2001. Due to gracious city support the Civic Center facility, where the Club is housed, was initially leased to the Club at no cost.

In late 2007, the Boys & Girls Club of Baraboo/Sauk County closed its doors due to a cash shortage. But after a massive three-month push to raise community support, the club reopened in February 2008 and has continued to thrive. Jeff Maurer, who helped lead that drive as president of the Club's Board of Directors at the time, said the episode taught valuable lessons. "I think one thing we learned was not to get complacent when it comes to fundraising," said Maurer, who also helped raise the funds to open the club a decade ago with his former employer, Pierce's Marketplace.

The Boys & Girls Club of Baraboo/Sauk County entered into a management agreement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tomah on February 1, 2008. The two organizations worked together for 14 months and decided to merge to form the Boys & Girls Club of West-Central Wisconsin on June 22, 2009.

Completing the Triad

In September 2017, the organization opened its third location in the town of Reedsburg in a renovated hardware store. The community sought out Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin when they began envisioning a Club to serve the youth in their community. After just over a year of fundraising, the Club exceeded its financial goal and the facility was opened. Since opening, membership has skyrocketed beyond any projections.

Still Changing Lives

Each day after school and during the summer, Boys & Girls Club members have the opportunity to learn, grow and give back to the community through programs that focus on academic success, healthy habits and lifestyles and good character and citizenship.