In January 1943, a riot involving more than 100 teens broke out on the corner of 85th and Greenwood in Seattle. Police who responded to the incident began looking for an answer to the growing community problem of juvenile crime and vandalism. As a result, Deputy Joe Woelfert opened the first Boys & Girls Club (originally called the Boys Club) in Washington state—the North Seattle Club. It was a great success from the very start, and within two years, eight Clubs sprouted up in the area. In the 1980s, the King County Clubs led the national movement to add girls to our name, which came to pass in 1990. Today, there are 14 Clubs and teen centers around King County, each focused on enriching the lives of kids every day.