In 1966  the Salesian Boys Club, as it was known then, was young; in fact it was new. It was officially dedicated by Cardinal Francis McIntyre, Archbishop of Los Angeles, and Salesian Cardinal Raul Silva in October of 1966, there was major demolition work and remodeling being done to the old Jewish Menorah Center, which dated back to the 1930s.  A lot of the fix-it work was done by LAPD Hollenbeck and ELA Sheriffs station personnel, along with many generous volunteers.  Assisting with the work were staff and students from Salesian High School.  Students from the school dreaded the famous detention periods, during which they were assigned to work at the remodeling of the Club.

In 1961, Cardinal McIntyre purchased the property, which had been abandoned and vandalized during the many years since the Menorah Center closed its doors. He turned it over to Fr. John Malloy, sdb and the Salesian Society to run an after school outreach program for young people in the area.  He and Fr. Ralph Murphy, sdb then looked after the remodeling in the early days, along with Fr. Charles Farina, sdb.

Those were exciting and rewarding years.  Slowly our Salesian Boosters Club expanded and the Board of Directors was born.  Working closely with Sgt. Jose Quintero from Hollenbeck Station, who was elected President of the Board in 1967, were fellow Board Members, Judge Anthony Chavez, Robert Devich from the D.A.’s office (who later became a judge), Ed Burgos, Frank Cardiel, Manuel Gallegos, Art Monroy, Gil Moret, Ed Sloan, Judge Carlos Velarde, Gil Vasquez, and Danny Villanueva.

The program was still simple and uncomplicated.    In 1984 the Club received the coveted Excellence Award for Youth Services from the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Sundays were “unofficial” Girls Days.  We had swimming and bingo and some crafts projects for the young ladies. It wasn’t until 1986 that the Club officially became Salesian Boys and Girls Club —  twenty years after its dedication!

In 1990 Fr. Carmine Vairo, sdb  became the Executive Director, following Fr. Bill Schafer.  In 1991 the newly remodeled Club was dedicated.  After five years Brother Phil Mandile, sdb became the Executive Director, a post he held until 1997.  Then came the purchase by the Salesian Society of the old Rotor Rooter warehouse, which under Fr. William Schafer became the Don Bosco Center.  It was later renamed the Salesian Family Youth Center, which was dedicated in 2001. 

The new Academic Centers of Excellence were opened at both sites as the Learning and Computer Technology Centers.  At the Club the conference room in the main building became the new L.A. Dodgers Teen Center. In 2009 the Family Youth Center opened the L.A. Lakers reading and learning center.

Both sites have opened their doors to the community for meetings, family and senior activities, and conferences.