The YMCA

The YMCA (Young Mens Christen Association) is a world-wide Christian, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the involvement of young people. It seeks to build a human community of justice with love, peace, and reconciliation. Founded in 1844, it now works through 14,000 local associations and 45,000,000 members in 122 countries. YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social needs of 17.5 million men, women and children. YMCAs are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs strength is in the All communities have different needs, so all YMCAs are different. A YMCA may offer child care or teen leadership clubs. A YMCA in the next town may have swimming lessons or drawing classes. Every YMCA makes its own decisions on what programs to The YMCAs mission is expressed in its motto taken from the Bible That they may all be one (John 17:21), and the Paris Basis, which emphasizes two main purposes working for unity and working for the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, that is, working for a society characterized by justice, peace and love according to Commitment to its mission has led YMCAs to work with all people in the community. This commitment has also led the YMCA to work for social change, addressing the root causes of issues and problems faced by people. In addition to recreation, sports and educational activities as well as the front-line services to refugeesand displaced people, in many countries the YMCA is also engaged in the formation of movements for social change. It is involved in peoples issues through community organizing and programs for empowering the people. The Grant County YMCAs facilities and programs are ...