YMCA of the USA
Volunteer founded and volunteer led, the YMCA was established in London, England, in 1844 by George Williams, a draper’s shop assistant, to give young men an alternative to life on the streets.
In 1851, Thomas Sullivan, a retired sea captain and lay missionary, started the first U.S. YMCA in Boston. From there, YMCAs spread rapidly across America. Some were started to serve specific groups such as railroad and factory workers, as well as African American, Native Americans and recent immigrants. After World War II, women and girls were admitted to full membership and participation.
Boston YMCA
Here are just a few of the "firsts" for the YMCA:
- 1881- Boston YMCA’s Robert J. coins the term “bodybuilding.“
- 1885 -Sumner Dudley founds the nation’s oldest continuously operating YMCA camp, known today as Camp Dudley. Also, the world’s first indoor swimming pool is built at Brooklyn (NY) Central YMCA.
- 1891-James Naismith invents basketball at International YMCA Training School (Springfield, MA). Dr. Luther Gulick designs YMCA logo, an equilateral triangle to show balance of body, mind and spirit.
- 1895-William G. Morgan of Holyoke (MA) YMCA invents volleyball.
- 1906-George Corsan of Toronto, hired by Detroit YMCA, revolutionizes water safety and teaching with mass swimming lessons.
- 1950-First racquetball game led by its inventor, Joe Sobek, at Greenwich (CT) YMCA.
- 1970-Jackie Sorenson begins “dance exercise“ classes at the Towson (MD) YMCA, leading to the boom in “aerobic dancing“ in the U.S.
- 1971- “Y’s Way to Physical Fitness“ program establishes national fitness testing standard.
- 1976- YMCA launches nationwide cardiovascular health program.
- 1986- YMCA of the USA introduces “YMCA Fitness Leaders,“ a standard program for training and certifying fitness instructors.
- 1992- YMCAs conduct first national Healthy Kids Day to encourage healthy development of youth; it becomes an annual April event.
- 2004 - YMCA of the USA, with the help of senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), unveils YMCA “Activate America“ initiative, a multi-year plan for leading community-based solutions to address the nation’s declining health and rise in obesity and chronic diseases.
