The story of how girls first came to Boys Town is one of opportunity, courage and a milestone change to meet the needs of all America’s youth.
It started as a grand experiment 45 years ago, an effort to extend Father Flanagan’s original mission of helping homeless boys so that girls who were facing tough challenges could benefit from Boys Town’s life-changing care.
In 1979, a few girls began living on Boys Town’s Home Campus in Nebraska, which up to that time had been open only to boys. The number of girl residents quickly grew to more than two dozen, and steadily increased into the early 1980s. In 1983, the first five girls graduated from Boys Town High School.
"If it wasn't for Boys Town I just can't imagine what my life would be like. I screwed up a lot after my time there but it is what I learned there that has saved me from screwing up my life forever."
— Lisa
The decision to welcome girls to Boys Town’s Family Home Program initially was met with uncertainty and some resistance. But Father Robert Hupp, then Boys Town’s Executive Director, realized that young girls faced the same problems as boys, and that Father Flanagan’s mission had to include helping and caring for all children. Boys Town successfully embraced this new approach, and more and more girls were able to find success through our compassionate, family-style care.
Today, girls make up about half of the youth population that receives care in the Village of Boys Town and at several of our affiliate sites. Girls have served as the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Boys Town, have excelled in academics, sports, music, art and leadership and have represented Boys Town as inspirational ambassadors. In 2017, during Boys Town’s Centennial celebration, a new statue depicting a boy carrying a girl on his back was dedicated on our Home Campus, joining our iconic “Two Brothers” statue in symbolizing Boys Town’s commitment to helping children.
“I was most thankful for normalcy. Thankful to not be around abuse — mentally, physically, verbally. Being at Boys Town and having an actual family was kind of like a dream come true.”
— Robin
As we celebrate our 45-year milestone, we remember the thousands of girls who have gone on from Boys Town to become strong, successful women and make their mark in the world. We also want to express our heart-felt gratitude to all the Family-Teachers who have cared for our girls. Two of the key figures in the history of girls at Boys Town are Camille Metoyer-Moten and her husband Michael Moten who were Family-Teachers for one of the first Family Homes for girls at Boys Town. Watch the video below to see the emotional reunion of two of the first five girls who came to Boys Town and lived with Michael and Camille, who provided them with the love, care and teaching they needed to build the brighter futures they are living today.
“I have so many wonderful memories. Mike and Camille had a way of embracing me and bringing me in with acceptance and unconditional love. I grew up in a very prejudiced home, and was not allowed to talk to African Americans. So, when I first came to Boys Town I was very verbally abusive towards Michael and Camille. But, by their example seeds of tolerance were planted and I learned so much. I learned how to accept people for who they are.”
— Rose
