The clubhouse in southwest Denver vibrated with a joyful cacophony on a recent school night as kids played foosball in the main room, painted stick houses in an art room and dribbled basketballs in one of the gyms down the hall.
The J. Churchill Owen Club on Kentucky Avenue is one of 25 centers operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. The organization aims to provide school-age children with safe after-school programs in their neighborhoods to help them build friendships, learn new skills and feel connected.
For Davian Castro-Rivera, the Owen Club has become a second home. The 13-year-old comes nearly every day after school — and often on Saturdays — for football, basketball and soccer practice. When he’s not playing sports, he enjoys looking after the younger children and helping them practice.
“Every time I come here, I feel really welcomed,” he said.
The nonprofit, which receives funding from The Denver Post Community Foundation’s Season to Share program, has provided safe spaces for Denver’s children since 1961. It reaches about 40,000 children each year.
On an average day, 2,500 kids ages 5 to 18 are spending their afternoons in one of the Denver-area clubhouses. Some clubs also offer programs before school and during the summer.
“It’s where they can have fun, build friendships and lead healthy lifestyles,” CEO Erin Porteous said.
The nonprofit has expanded greatly from its beginnings six decades ago, when it offered two programs for boys: a woodworking class and a mechanics class. Children are navigating a more complex and violent world — and the organization has adapted to meet those needs while remaining an anchor point, Porteous said.
Now, the clubs offer homework help, mental health counseling, literacy programs, nutrition education, sports leagues and leadership programs. Kids at the J. Churchill Owen Club have access to 3D printers, a computer lab, a rock climbing wall, two gyms, a reading library, and an arts and crafts room. Teens can learn about college and career opportunities.
One of Porteous’ most cherished memories from her 19 years working for the Boys and Girls Clubs comes from the organization’s annual holiday toy drive. She once watched a little girl survey the pile of gifts before picking out a black bike with lightning bolts, rather than a glitzy pink one with streamers.
When she asked the girl why she picked the boy’s bike, the girl told her that she wanted a bike her little brother would also feel proud to ride. It would be the only bike in the family, and the girl knew they’d have to share.
“Sometimes that toy might be the only moment of joy they have during the holiday season,” Porteous said.
Half of the children who attend the Boys and Girls Clubs come from families earning less than $44,000 a year. The clubs serve families who speak more than a dozen languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Swahili and Vietnamese.
Beyond programs, the clubs connect children with trusted adults and older children who can serve as role models and sounding boards.
“It’s not only a place for kids to go, but our staff are the mentors and motivators to our kids,” Porteous said. “We know that connection from kid to adult, from kid to mentor, is so important for them to be successful in and out of school.”
Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver
Address: 2017 W. Ninth Ave., Denver, CO 80204
In operation since: 1961
Number of employees: 167 full-time and 134 part-time staff members
Number of volunteers: 116 individual volunteers and 955 group volunteers in the 2025 fiscal year
Annual budget: $23.9 million
Number of clients served: 40,000 annually