Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-15
Boys Clubs Scrap
Segregation Policy
Boards Vote
Opens d Units
To All Races

A policy Of non-discrimina-
ton was officially adopted last
night by officials of the Boys
Clubs Of Greater Washington.
The policy change, approved
at a 1l2-hour meeting of 200
members Of the organizations
executive board. affects four
previously all-white clubs-in
Georgetown, Silver Spring,
Falls Church and Mclean.
In recent weeks. the four
clubs have been listed as being
among seven United Givers
Fund agencies that have dis
criminatory policies.
A fifth boys recreational
facility operated by the Boys
Clubs Of Greater WASHINGTON
the club at Seventeenth street
and Massachusetts, avenue Sc.
has a predominantly Negro
membership and has been in
tegrated for about three years.
UGF Biggest Supporter
At last nights special board
meeting. members adopted a
resolution stating that the or
ganiZation would extend "its
policy Of non-discrimination
heretofore in effect only in
the Southeast Washington
ranch) in accepting member
ship applications from boys re-
siding within the area where
branches are located"
Boys Club officials last sum-
mer set up a Discrimination
Study Committee. They de-
clared that some private back
ers Of the clubs had warned
that racial Indignation would
mean the end of their financial
support.
UGF. however, has been the
largest single supporter Of the
five clubs, having contributed
Sl09, 000-one-third Of the clubs
operating costs-in the past
year. A club spokesman re-
ported that UGF support might
be withdrawn if the four segre-
gated branches were retained.
Guy G. Harper, jr., president
Of the clubs executive board.
said the policy change was
made because we're in the
business Of serving boys, and
we want to serve the colored
boys as we'll as the white ones. 4"
Three Left SEGREGATED
UGF officials said only three
agencies which receive UGF
support still have segregation
policies. They we're listed as
the Alexandria YMCA and the
boys clubs of Alexandria and
Prince Georges County. The
latter two are not affiliated
with the Boys Club of Greater
Washington.
The president of the Boys
Club of Alexandria, mean
while, said today the club
plans to change its policy of
segregation and move gradu-
ally toward integration.
George F. EVERY, the Off
cial, said integration would be-
gin at the lower age levels.
Boys from 8 to II are served.
The club at 401 North Payne
street is in a Negro residen-
tial area. The board believes it
could not absorb all of the ap-
plications should it adopt a
policy of complete integration
at this time, Mr.. Everly said.
The board hopes to build a
second facility, and will seek
permission from the Health
and Welfare Council of the
National Capital Area to con-
duct a capital funds drive for
/ it, he said.
Mr.. Everly said the plan for
deSegregation has been. pre-
sented to the nondiscrimina-
ton committee of the Health
and Welfare Council.
Alvin ]. Steinberg, president
of the Health and Welfare
Council, which approves UGF
aid to various agencies, today
declared:
I'VE are very delighted with
the action taken by the Boys
Clubs and are very hopeful that
the other agencies will follow
suit"
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