Our History

            Here is a little of the History of the Rockford Jaycees. The Rockford Jaycees began as the Young Men's Association of Commerce in October, 1933. The first office space was on the first floor of the Coronado Theatre. In January of 1941, the organization joined the State and National Junior Chamber of Commerce. In September of 1953, the Rockford Jaycees were instrumental in the establishment of a ticket office in Weise's downtown store, which still exists throughout the P.A. Bergner stores locally. In 1960, John F. Kennedy, who had begun his quest for the presidency, visited a State Jaycees conference. We also sponsored the first Miss Rockford Contest in accordance with the Miss America pageant. In 1969 Rockford began the Minority Business Program, and the Drug Abuse Program. The fall of 1970 marked the first Haunted House in Rockford's history! In 1974 we held Rockford's first and only Double Haunted House. It was located in the Down Town Mall, where the New American Theatre is presently located. In 1975, we began a weekly Bingo project at Teamsters Hall. Then, in 1979 the first Haunted Jail was held in the old city jail. The Christmas Shop-A-Thon and a dinner for the Unemployed was held to bring a little holiday cheer into the lives of the less fortunate in 1982.

            The Rockford Jaycees have developed many fine programs for our community and several of them are still being carried on by other organizations. We have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, and have trained thousands of young leaders through Individual Development, Community Development, and Management Development Programs. As the familiar saying goes,Leaders are not born, They are developed!