Boys & Girls Village Celebrates 80 Years of Serving Connecticut’s Most Vulnerable

Supporters, educators, and community leaders came together to attend the Boys & Girls Village 80^th anniversary celebration. The occasion recognized the non-profit organization’s extraordinary work in helping thousands of Connecticut’s children and families over the past eight decades.

The event, which took place last month on the Boys & Girls Village Milford campus, included music, food, and information about the organization’s growth and many program offerings. Chaz and AJ from 99.1 WPLR served as event emcees.

Eighty years ago, the organization, based in Milford, CT, began with a vision of helping troubled youth to redirect their energies. It has since grown to become a leading provider of behavioral health, special education, vocational training, permanency planning services and juvenile justice initiatives for Connecticut’s most vulnerable youth and their families.

“Boys & Girls Village began in 1942 as a working farm, helping wayward boys find a more productive path in life,” said Kim Shaunesey, Ph.D., President & CEO of Boys & Girls Village. “Fast forward 80 years, and we now serve all at-risk youth and their families, and offer a wide variety of versatile and innovative programs and services.”

An innovator in its field, Boys & Girls Village has steadily expanded its portfolio of offerings to help at-risk children and families throughout the state. Through new programming, an enlarged special education school, additional locations in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Waterbury, and an expanded Milford campus, the organization cares for over 900 clients per year.

Last year, the organization launched a new Life Skills & Vocational Training Center, where at-risk youth explore vocational opportunities, gain work experience and achieve paid employment and economic self-sufficiency.

“We are proud of our continued growth and expansive array of programs that help us deliver innovative care to children and families throughout Connecticut,” said  Carol Smith Harker, Boys & Girls Village Board Chair. “We look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate our anniversary throughout the year.”

To learn more about Boys & Girls Village, visit BGVillage.org or call 203-877-0300.

Boys & Girls Village would like to thank the many sponsors who helped to make this event possible including: A-1 Toyota; Attorney Carl Glad; BBI Technologies; Beirne Wealth Consulting Services, LLC; Human Resources Consulting; MH Maintenance, LLC; LH Brenner, Inc. Insurance; Thompson & Peck, Inc.; Alera Group; Bismark Construction; NSI; Somerset Capital Group;  Murtha Cullina Attorneys at Law; R & R Mechanical Services, LLC; and a generous matching gift by The Village Foundation.