YMCA

This article is about the organization. For the Village People song, see Y.M.C.A. (song). For other uses, see YMCA (disambiguation).
"The Y" redirects here. For the Latin character, see Y. For other uses, see The Y (disambiguation).

YMCA
Founded6 June 1844; 180 years ago (1844-06-06)
FounderGeorge Williams
Founded atLondon, England
TypeInternational NGO
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Region served
Worldwide
President
Soheila Hayek
Secretary General
Carlos Sanvee
Staff88,485 (2018)
Volunteers
919,671 (2018)
Websiteymca.int
Formerly called
Young Men's Christian Association

YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches worldwide.[1] It was founded in London on 6 June 1844 by George Williams as the Young Men's Christian Association. The organization aims to put Christian values into practice by developing a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

From its inception, YMCA grew rapidly, ultimately becoming a worldwide movement founded on the principles of muscular Christianity. Local YMCAs deliver projects and services focused on youth development through a wide variety of youth activities, including providing athletic facilities, holding classes for a wide variety of skills, promoting Christianity, and humanitarian work.

YMCA is a non-governmental federation, with each independent local YMCA affiliated with its national organization. The national organizations, in turn, are part of both a geographically regional area alliance and the World Alliance of YMCA. YMCA programs vary between nations and regions, but are all based on the principles espoused in the Paris Basis.

The YMCA is a parachurch organization based on Protestant values.[2][3] Similar organizations include the YWCA, and the Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA).

In popular culture, the YMCA is the subject of the 1978 song "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People.

  1. ^ "Blue Book". World Alliance of YMCAs. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  2. ^ Heath, Gordon L. (31 October 2016). American Churches and the First World War. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 9781532601149.
  3. ^ Ferentinos, Susan (16 December 2014). Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780759123748.