The mission of Boys & Girls Harbor is to empower children and their families to become full, productive participants in society through education, cultural enrichment and social services.

The Harbor was founded in 1937 by Tony Duke as a small, innovative summer camp for disadvantaged immigrant children. Today, the Harbor is an outstanding organization providing education and character development for over 2,000 children coming from East Harlem, Harlem and the South Bronx each year.

Building on its long tradition of providing pre-school and after-school services, the Harbor was one of the first organizations to open a charter school in New York State, and in 2005 added the Emily N. Carey School to its educational core. The Harbor's Conservatory for the Performing Arts is internationally recognized, and maintains the Raices Latin Music Museum, designated an official project of Save America's Treasures by the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Other Harbor initiatives include vibrant multi-site pre- and after-school programs, Upward Bound college readiness, and Oasas/Genesis teen substance abuse prevention.