FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - What started as a casual lunch conversation in Lafayette nearly four decades ago has grown into one of the largest Boys and Girls Clubs in America, serving Fort Wayne’s youth and making history along the way.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne opened in 1989, filling a notable gap in the community. Fort Wayne had been the largest city in the country without a Boys Club, despite efforts spanning more than 50 years to establish one.

The catalyst came through Rudy Mahara, who first learned about Boys and Girls Clubs while living in Lafayette.

“I had a client that was the director of a Boys and Girls Club. I asked him to take me to lunch, tell me about your club so I can make my report,” Mahara said.

Soon after, he found himself in Fort Wayne, recruiting board

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