In the mid-1800s, London was a place of despair for men who migrated to the city to find jobs. The dangerous housing troubled 22-year-old George Williams, who joined 11 friends to organize the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge from hazardous street life.
Years later, retired Boston sea captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan saw a need to create a safe “home away from home” for sailors and merchants. Inspired by the Y in England, he formed the first U.S. YMCA at the Old South Church in Boston in 1851. Over the past 162 years the Y has evolved into an organization accessible to all people, and financial assistance is offered to those who cannot afford membership or programs.
The Y’s contributions—both past and current—are far-reaching. Here are just a few of the highlights:
• In 1881, a Boston Y staffer coined “body building”
• In 1885 the Y started Camp Dudley, America’s first summer camp program in New York
• In the 1890s, Y instructor William Morgan merged basketball, tennis and handball to create volleyball.
• In 1891, James Naismith hung peach baskets to the bottom of a running track and taught his new game: basketball.
• In 1909, George Corsan arrived at the Detroit Y to teach swimming. 800 boys learned to swim in 4 weeks.
• During WWII, the Y and five other organizations founded the USO.
• In 1950, Y volunteer Joe Sobek invented racquetball;
• In 1992, Ys held the first Healthy Kids Day, the nation’s largest free health day for kids and families.
Who knows if the YMCA would have made it to America without that retired sea captain? With that being said, we could say that every day is Valentine’s Day at the YMCA.
