|
Did you know
the YMCA movement is still going strong after 150+ years?
"The YMCA, the oldest and largest social institution in the United States and has touched the lives of virtually all Americans. It gave the country basketball and volleyball, its best-known contributions. The Y also pioneered camping, public libraries, night schools, and teaching English as a second language. YMCAs provided war relief since the Civil War and served immigrants and refugees from countries around the world. It has fostered understanding and cooperation within Christianity and among the world's major faiths. It has summoned the strengths of association to make communities stronger. The YMCA has probably touched more lives in America than any other volunteer or social institution."
Andrea Hinding, Professor, University of Minnesota
The YMCA Today
More than 2,663 neighborhood YMCAs today serve over 20 million members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. YMCA memberships have doubled since 1974. Collectively, YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit organizations in the nation and benefit from the leadership of more than 600,000 volunteers.
Each YMCA is volunteer- founded, volunteer-led, and volunteer-based. As such, each YMCA is a separate and independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Every YMCA is started by local volunteers in its community, and all funds raised stay in its community.
Although born 150 years ago as the "Young Men's Christian Association," half of YMCA members are female and half are over the age of 18. The mission of the YMCA is based on Christian principles shared by all faiths and are practiced each day in every YMCA across the United States and in 130 countries around the world.
The La Crosse Area Family YMCA has a rich history in the Coulee Region, providing programs and activities for children, adults, and families since 1883. Today, the La Crosse Area Family YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents annually and offers programs at 14 locations in Onalaska, Holmen, and La Crosse. A Brief History of the La Crosse YMCA
- 1883 YMCA organized in La Crosse
- 1908 Building Campaign raised $90,000
- 1909 YMCA Facility at 7th & Main opens and is dedicated by President William
Howard Taft
- 1966 Capital Campaign was launched for existing facility
- 1968 Construction began on the existing facility
- 1994 Warren and Nancy Quinlisk donate land in Onalaska for future expansion
- 2003 Capital Campaign was launched for Family YMCA North facility
- 2005 Groundbreaking for Family YMCA North facility on June 8th
- 2006 YMCA-North facility opened its doors on August 14th
- The YMCA is the largest youth serving organization in the greater La Crosse area,
with more than 15,000 children and teens involved in programs annually.
- The YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents of the greater La Crosse area
each year.
- Each and every day, we have a major impact on children and families by providing
programs and activities for more than 2,000 children per school day!
- Membership demographics are diverse including people of all ages, incomes,
and abilities.
- Over half of YMCA members are children and teens under the age of 18.
- The YMCA is the largest childcare provider in our community.
Mission:
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
|
