YMCA of Rochester, Inc.

Our Mission is: "Providing for the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of the individual, family, and community." Our YMCA is a charitable nonprofit organization, qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code. Our Global History: The YMCA was founded in London, England, in 1844 by George Williams and about a dozen friends who lived and worked as clerks in a drapery a forerunner of dry-goods and department stores. Their goal was to help young men like themselves find God. The first members were evangelical Protestants who prayed and studied the Bible as an alternative to vice. The Y movement has always been nonsectarian and today accepts those of all faiths at all levels of the organization, despite its unchanging name, the Young Men's Christian Association. Our National History: The first U.S. YMCA started in Boston in 1851, the work of Thomas Sullivan, a retired sea captain who was a lay missionary. Ys spread fast and soon were serving boys and older men as well as young men. Although 5,145 women worked in YMCA military canteens in World War I, it wasn't until after World War II that women and girls were admitted to full membership and participation in the US YMCAs. Today half of all YMCA members and program members are female, and half are under age 18.' Our Local History: In 1909, the first YMCA facility opened in Rochester, MN on the SW corner of 2nd St. and 1st Ave. SW. In 1932 Dark days fell on the country during and following World War I, which was deeply felt in the early 1930’s. On November 19, 1932, the building was closed as a YMCA and eventually sold to Mayo Properties Assoc. The building was razed in April 1938. From the 1930’s to the 1950’s Dr. Howard K. Gray kept the idea of a YMCA alive. In 1955 a new group of citizens under the leadership of David Bishop, a young Rochester attorney, talked again of establishing a YMCA, which came to be in 1956. In 1964, it was recognized by leaders of both the Rochester YMCA and Rochester YWCA that their respective programs could be further enhanced through the construction of adequate facilities. However, it was determined that the community could not support two separate buildings. A decision was made to conduct a unified campaign to develop a facility that would be shared between the two organizations. The campaign was a success, generating nearly 1.2 million dollars in gifts from 3,500 individuals, families and businesses. In 1964, our facility was built. It furnished over 50,000 square feet of program space to the community. A swimming pool, gymnasium, two handball courts, a youth game room and meeting rooms now met the program needs of the organizations. In 1986 the two organizations consolidated their programs and staff into the Rochester Area Family Y. They realized the benefits of having one organization work with both boys and girls and men and women. Visit www.rochfamy.org for current information.