In 2026, YMCAs across the country are celebrating 175 years of making a difference. Since 1850, the YMCA has been more than a gym or a pool; it’s been a place where people come together to learn, grow, achieve, connect, and belong.

The story of the YMCA in America is one of compassion, creativity, and community spirit. It began with a simple mission; to meet the practical and spiritual needs of young men drawn to London during the Industrial Revolution. That same spirit soon crossed the ocean to the United States. From the very beginning, the Y has been there wherever people needed support: serving soldiers and their families in every U.S. conflict since the Civil War, welcoming immigrants as they stepped off the boats at Ellis Island and helping them build new lives.

The Y also became a place of learning and discovery, creating the first night schools and English classes for newcomers, and even inventing group swimming lessons, basketball, volleyball, and racquetball; gifts it shared freely with the world. When women began joining the workforce in large numbers, the YMCA stepped up again, offering quality, affordable childcare. And during times of change, it turned its focus to teaching values and character, reminding communities of the power of kindness, integrity, and hope.