WESTFIELD – The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield has been providing programs for youth for 50 years.

Executive Director William Parks said the community is invited to help celebrate 50 years of service at the Golden Gala Feb. 29 at Chez Josef.

Co-chairs Jeff and Emily Amanti and Jon and Danielle Stolpinski have created an event that Parks said “will be a lot of fun.”

“We’ll have a Boys and Girls Club style game room and slideshow showcasing the past 50 years,” said Parks.

The Golden Gala is not just about the Club turning 50, but it’s really about the kids who participated in Club programs, the staff who worked with them and the board of directors who guided them, said Parks.

 The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield was started by the local Kiwanis Club. Housed on Free Street in what is now the Samaritan Inn, the Club membership was originally just for boys, although there were some programs for girls.

Kiwanis International Trustee and Past President, Westfield Kiwanis Club, George Delisle said the Boys and Girls Club founders had a vision.

“The generation of Kiwanians that established the Westfield Boys Club showed tremendous vision and foresight,” said Delisle. “Once they determined the need, they set out to fill it, pledging $100,000 – a huge amount of money in 1969 – to establish the club.”

Delisle said much of that money came out of their own pockets.

 “These great Kiwanians – men like Frank Pollard, Ted Perez, Don Blair, Don Ouimet, and others – set a very high standard that we who followed have tried hard to live up to,” Delisle said. “The Westfield Kiwanis Club continues to support the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield, financially and in other ways, and I think it’s safe to say we regard it as our club’s greatest accomplishment.”

The Club officially became the Boys and Girls Club in 1985 and moved to its current location on Broad Street – next to the Westfield Middle School and Amelia Park complex – in 1991.

Parks said the vision of the founders helped the Club grow into what it is today; a place where young people can be themselves, make friends, find mentors and see a bright future.

On a typical day, up to 350 youth can be found at the Club. Some do their homework, others may play basketball or pool or participate in one of the many classes offered there.

In the Technology Center, young people can take a number of classes, including how to code, how to manage money and how to make a robot. There are visual and performing arts opportunities and a swim team, Kiwanis K-kids, STEM mentoring and athletics, among many other programs.

Parks, who was a Boys Club kid himself growing up in eastern Massachusetts, said the Club serves up to 1,600 youth throughout the year through the before and afterschool programs. During the school year, the Club provides up to 275 children with dinner each day, as well as after school snacks.  In the summer, the free lunch program provides lunch for 600 children each day.

While the Club is dedicated to helping all youth, there is a focus on supporting lower income families. However, Parks said every child at the Club is there for a reason, and sometimes it’s just making a connection.

“The goal has always been to give kids the opportunity to have experiences to find out what path they want to take,” Parks said.

Many former Club participants and staff will be highlighted at the Golden Gala.

“It won’t be a big awards night, but we will recognize those who have made an impact,” said Parks.

Tickets to the Golden Gala are $75 at bgcwestfield.org, however, Parks said he does not want the cost to prohibit past “Club kids” or staff from attending, and anyone who would like to attend but cannot afford the ticket price should contact the Club.