Editing YMCA (section)

== Regions ==
=== Africa ===
{{Further|Kampala YMCA}}

[[File:Logo AA - gif white keyline.gif|thumb|The Africa Alliance of YMCAs logo]]
[[File:YMCA ACCRA CENTRAL GHANA.jpg|thumb|YMCA Accra Ghana in [[Accra]]]]

YMCAs in [[Africa]] are united under the Africa Alliance of YMCAs (AAYMCA).<ref>{{cite web |title=Africa Alliance of YMCAs website |url=http://www.africaymca.org/}}</ref> The core focus of the organizational work done by the AAYMCA is youth [[empowerment]]. AAYMCA is the oldest non-governmental organization network in Africa, reaching approximately five million programme participants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africaymca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/annual_report_2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.africaymca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/annual_report_2010.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=AAYMCA Annual Report}}</ref> The first YMCA in Africa was established in [[Liberia]] in 1881,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.lib.umn.edu/special|title=Archives & Special Collections · University of Minnesota Libraries|website=www.lib.umn.edu|date=8 September 2023 }}</ref> and the AAYMCA was founded in 1977 as the umbrella body for all national movements on the continent.<ref name=":0" />

AAYMCA collaborates with national movements to conduct research, develop localized as well as continental programming, monitor and evaluate progress, and communicate impact of youth development work undertaken on the continent.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |last=volunteer |first=Christine Davis, Africa Alliance of YMCAs |date=2010-04-01 |title=Transactional sex, HIV and livelihoods |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/269910/transactional-sex-hiv-and-livelihoods.html |access-date=2016-05-17 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2009-09-14 |title=Ghana YMCA technical training addresses critical educational gaps |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/238343/ghana-ymca-technical-training-addresses-critical-educational.html |access-date=2016-05-17 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en-GB}}</ref> From 2015, the Africa Alliance of YMCAs has aligned much of its programmatic work to some of the goals set out by the [[African Union]]'s Agenda 2063 Development Plan in order to contribute towards the achievement of the ideals envisioned by the [[African Renaissance]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Agenda2063 |url=http://ymca2063.org/agenda2063/ |access-date=2016-05-17 |website=ymca2063.org |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810031157/http://ymca2063.org/agenda2063/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1975,  Africa's YMCAs tried to revive the ones in [[Côte d'Ivoire]] and [[Kenya]] followed by those in [[Madagascar]], [[Jordan]], [[Suriname]], and [[Angola]].

Active YMCA organizations exist in [[Angola]], [[Cameroon]], [[Côte d'Ivoire]], [[Egypt]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Gambia]], [[Ghana]], [[Kenya]], [[Liberia]], [[Madagascar]], [[Nigeria]], [[Senegal]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[South Africa]], [[Tanzania]], [[Togo]], [[Uganda]], [[Zambia]], and [[Zimbabwe]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Africa YMCA {{!}} Vision and Mission |url=http://www.africaymca.org/about-us/vision-and-mission/ |access-date=2016-05-17 |website=www.africaymca.org |archive-date=11 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611124426/http://www.africaymca.org/about-us/vision-and-mission/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Associate movements exist in [[Niger]], [[Rwanda]], and [[South Sudan]].<ref name=":2" /> YMCA organizations are in formation in [[Malawi]] and [[Namibia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=YMCA Namibia |url=https://www.facebook.com/YMCANam |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref> {{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}

=== Asia ===
{{Further|National Council of YMCAs of India|YMCA in South Australia}}

[[File:Y. M. C. A. Headquarters, Peking.jpg|thumb|YMCA headquarters in Peking, now [[Beijing]]]]
[[File:YMCA, Vijayanagar, Mysore.jpg|thumb|YMCA Mysore in [[Mysore]], India]]

==== China ====
In 1911, the YMCA appointed [[J. Howard Crocker]] to serve as the foreign work secretary to promote physical education based in [[Shanghai]], the headquarters of all YMCA work in China.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mr. Crocker Will Be Sent To China|date=May 18, 1911|newspaper=[[Brantford Expositor]]|location=Brantford, Ontario|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brantford-daily-expositor-crocker-19/123360067/|access-date=May 28, 2023|archive-date=April 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428121426/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brantford-daily-expositor-crocker-19/123360067/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="YMCA-1930">{{cite news|title=Howard Crocker's Resignation|author=National Council of [[YMCA#Canada|Young Men's Christian Associations of Canada]]|date=November 1930|newspaper=The News Bulletin|location=Toronto, Ontario|pages=1–2}}</ref> When he first arrived in China, the YMCA had facilities in large cities, but lacked a nationally co-ordinated effort.<ref name="Henderson-1953">{{cite news|title=Retire at 60? No, Sir! Dr. J. Howard Crocker Carved a Second Career|last=Henderson|first=Jim|date=September 22, 1956|newspaper=[[Brantford Expositor]]|location=Brantford, Ontario|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-expositor-crocker-1956/122827468/|access-date=May 28, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418102940/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-expositor-crocker-1956/122827468/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1911, he arranged the first school for physical education directors in China.<ref name="jan-19-1918">{{cite news|title=Y.M.C.A. Supremacy in Physical Education|date=January 19, 1918|newspaper=[[Brantford Expositor]]|location=Brantford, Ontario|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brantford-daily-expositor-crocker-19/123538905/|access-date=May 28, 2023|archive-date=April 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429234037/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brantford-daily-expositor-crocker-19/123538905/|url-status=live}}</ref> With the support of president [[Yuan Shikai]], Crocker toured China to conduct training courses and establish a school for physical education instructors.<ref name="Henderson-1953" /> Shanghai subsequently became the first training centre for physical education directors in China.<ref name="jan-19-1918" />

==== Hong Kong ====
{{Main|Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong}}

YMCA Hong Kong was established in 1901, being separated into two separate organizations in 1908, split across linguistic lines: "[[YMCA of Hong Kong]]" and "[[Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong]]". YMCA Hong Kong headquarters has occupied its current location at 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui since 1922. YMCA Hong Kong established the College of Continuing Education in 1996<ref>YMCA Hong Kong ''About Us''. [http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/main/en/about_us/history/history_at_a_glance/index.html History at a Glance], 2015</ref> and [[YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College]] in 2003.<ref>[https://www.yhkcc.edu.hk YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College] The first secondary school sponsored by YMCA Hong Kong.</ref>

=== Europe ===
{{Further|Polish YMCA|YWCA-YMCA Guides and Scouts of Norway}}

==== Germany ====
[[File:CVJM Wittenberg 04.jpg|thumb|A YMCA in [[Wittenberg]]]]
[[File:Budynek YMCA ul. Konopnickiej w Warszawie 2020.jpg|thumb|A YMCA in [[Warsaw]]]]
In [[Germany]], as in [[Austria]] and [[Switzerland]], YMCA is called CVJM, which stands for Christlicher Verein junger Menschen (Christian Association of Young People). Up until 1985 the organisation was called 'Christlicher Verein Junger Männer' (Christian Association of Young Men); the name change reflected its activities being accessible to men and women.

==== Sweden ====
{{Main|YWCA-YMCA of Sweden}}

[[YWCA-YMCA of Sweden]] in [[Sweden]] was established in 1966 following a merger of YMCA of Sweden and the YWCA of Sweden. In 2011, the organization decided to use the term "KFUM Sverige" during promotion where "M" stands for ''människor'' ("people") instead of ''män'' (men) as it did previously. YWCA-YMCA of Sweden has 40,000 members in 140 local associations. Several Swedish YWCA-YMCA associations have been successful in sports.

==== United Kingdom and Ireland ====
[[File:The Young Men's Christian Association on the Western Front, 1914-1918 Q5444.jpg|thumb|A temporary [[First World War]] YMCA on the Western Front, near Rouen, France, 1914]]
[[File:Bath YMCA - geograph.org.uk - 3739513.jpg|thumb|YMCA [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], one of 86 locations in England and Wales]]
YMCA in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]] consists of three separate National Councils: England and Wales, Ireland, and [[Scotland]]. When YMCAs in [[Wales]] joined YMCA England in 2017, the council was renamed YMCA England and Wales.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YMCA England & Wales |url=https://ymca.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=YMCA England and Wales}}</ref>

YMCAs in England and Wales offer supported accommodation for vulnerable and homeless young people, mental health services, youth clubs, sports centres, nursery schools and family support and after school clubs. Across England and Wales, YMCA in 2024 supports more than 18,000 young people with homes each year,<ref name="Accommodation" /> at 86 locations <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ymca.org.uk/locations/ | title=Find Your Local YMCA &#124; YMCA England & Wales }}</ref> making it one of the largest providers of safe supported accommodation for young people. At the great majority of sites those living in accommodation are supported by personal, social and educational services. Many YMCAs in England and Wales offer services and facilities to the wider community, among them foodbanks, gyms and swimming pools, conference facilities, cafes, theatres, counselling, chaplaincy and housing advice.

The archive of YMCA England and Wales is housed in the Special Collections section of the [[University of Birmingham]] with material from the initial founding of YMCA in London in 1840s to the recent past. The archive of YMCA Scotland is housed at the [[National Archives of Scotland]].

=== Latin America ===
==== Argentina ====
YMCA developed in 1902 in [[Argentina]], where it provided support for physical education teachers. YMCA was most notable in encouraging women's sports in South America, and during the early 1900s, YMCA in Argentina highly promoted basketball, swimming, and track and field. There were many victories for the development of sports in Argentina due to YMCA, such as Frederick Dickens, who served as the director of physical education at the Buenos Aires YMCA. Dickens eventually led the Argentine Olympic delegation to Paris in 1924 and Amsterdam in 1928.<ref name=":1" />

==== Brazil ====
YMCA developed in 1893 in [[Brazil]], and volleyball was deemed appropriate for women from the beginning. Through the encouragement of YMCA, physical educators promoted women's volleyball in schools like Escola Wenceslau Braz and Colégio Sylvio Leite in [[Rio de Janeiro|Rio]]. Sports clubs even began to organize events for women because of YMCA's influence.<ref name=":1" />

==== Mexico ====
[[Mexico]]'s first YMCA branch opened in [[Mexico City]] in 1902 for the American community. By 1904, there were two more branches in Mexico City and one branch established in Monterrey. In 1907, another branch in Chihuahua was set up and then one YMCA in Tampico. In Mexico, YMCA organized physical activity, individual development, and national progress. There was advertising for YMCA programs that would help young men gain life skills and YMCA also had some activities for women. For example, an excursion to Xochimilco in 1910 featured races for boys and girls and indoor baseball for everyone. YMCA had very little influence on rural Mexico until after the [[Mexican Revolution]].<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last1=Elsey |first1=Brenda |title=Futbolera |last2=Nadel |first2=Joshua |date=21 May 2019 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-1477310427}}</ref>

==== Panama ====
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2021}}

[[File:Former YMCA building in Panama Canal Zone.jpg|alt=Former YMCA building in Panama Canal Zone, a gold and white building, now fenced off from the public.|thumb|Former YMCA building in the Panama Canal Zone]]

In 1904, a letter was written by the chief engineer of the [[Panama Canal Zone]], [[John Findley Wallace]], to Admiral J.G. Walker, chairman of the [[Isthmian Canal Commission]], recommending that YMCA be brought to the Canal Zone. With the approval of both President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] [[William Howard Taft]], A. Bruce Minear, an experienced secretary, was sent to organize the association work in the Canal Zone.<ref name="archives.lib.umn.edu">{{cite web |title=Collection: Records of YMCA international work in Panama {{!}} University of Minnesota Archival Collections Guides |url=https://archives.lib.umn.edu/repositories/7/resources/960 |access-date=2020-03-13 |website=archives.lib.umn.edu}}</ref> Construction was started on YMCA clubhouses in Culebra, Empire, Gorgona, and Cristobal, Panama, as well as in Panama City. These clubhouses were operated by YMCA for several years and were financed by the Canal Zone, they contained billiard rooms, an assembly room, a reading room, bowling alleys, dark rooms for the camera clubs, gymnastic equipment, an ice cream parlor and soda fountain, and a circulating library.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} By 1920, there were nine buildings in operation in the Canal Zone.

Panama YMCA was founded on 24 May 1966.<ref name="archives.lib.umn.edu" /> The 1968 impeachment of President Marco Aurelio Robles and the ensuing riots and political unrest impacted YMCA's work and the after-school programs at Panama YMCA were cancelled. Use of the school equipment, such as the pool and gym, greatly helped YMCA's ability to continue on with the swimming classes and summer programs. These programs remained popular throughout this time.

In 1983, planning was started for the integration of Panama YMCA and the American Services YMCA (ASYMCA). The integration of the remaining two ASYMCAs, the Balboa Branch and the Cristobal Branch, with the Panama Branch, a merger that was completed in 1990.

YMCA Panama continues its work for the betterment of today's society. In 2005, YMCA Panama inaugurated the new YMCA Panama School located on Colinas del Sol, in the Nuevo Chorrillo District of Arraijan.

==== Peru ====
YMCA [[Peru]] has a team of 200 employees and a voluntary body of more than 700 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nosotros – YMCA Peru |url=http://ymcaperu.org/index.php/nosotros/ |website=ymcaperu.org}}</ref> The organization describes its mission as "Having a positive impact on the young people so they have the will to transform the Peruvian society".<ref name="ymcaperu.org">{{cite web |title=YMCA Peru – Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes del Perú |url=http://ymcaperu.org/ |website=ymcaperu.org}}</ref>
YMCA Peru was created on 17 May 1920. It has presence in the departments of Lima, Arequipa, and Trujillo.<ref name="ymcaperu.org"/>

=== Middle East ===
==== Israel ====
[[File:UNSCOP SESSIONS AT THE YMCA IN JERUSALEM Wwwm8562.jpg|thumb|Many of the [[UNSCOP]] sessions to decide the fate of [[Mandatory Palestine|The British Mandate to Palestine]] were held at the [[Jerusalem]] YMCA.]]
In 1924, Archibald Clinton Harte, General Secretary of the International YMCA, raised the sum of one million dollars towards the construction of the building.<ref>{{Cite web|title = YMCA INTERNATIONAL WORK IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL: An Inventory of Its Records|url = http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/html/ymca/yusa0009x2x2.phtml|website = Kautz Family YMCA Archives|access-date = 2016-02-10|publication-place = University of Minnesota}}</ref> The Jerusalem YMCA was dedicated in 1933 with the words “Here is a place whose atmosphere is peace, where political and religious jealousies can be forgotten and international unity be fostered and developed.” Harte's home on the shores of [[Galilee]] was bequeathed to the [[Jerusalem International YMCA]] as an international conference facility.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Archibald Harte|url = http://www3.springfieldcollege.edu/homepage/dept.nsf/4E93DD891996606345256D1E002E387E/7BAB55A7C1BBFC64852573C4006FA854|access-date = 16 September 2022|archive-date = 17 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117111434/http://www3.springfieldcollege.edu/homepage/dept.nsf/4E93DD891996606345256D1E002E387E/7BAB55A7C1BBFC64852573C4006FA854|url-status = dead}}</ref> The cornerstone was laid in 1928 by [[Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer|Lord Plumer]], the British High Commissioner for [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], on a plot of land in the West Nikephoria section of [[Jerusalem]], purchased from the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem|Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem]].<ref name="ymcahis">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040604143215/http://www.jerusalemymca.org/ENG/History/History.html YMCA history]}}</ref> The building was designed by the American architect [[Arthur Loomis Harmon]] of [[Shreve, Lamb and Harmon]], who designed the [[Empire State Building]]. The Jerusalem YMCA housed the city's first heated swimming pool and first gymnasium with a wooden floor. The first concert broadcasts of the [[Voice of Israel]] radio station were transmitted from the YMCA auditorium.

In 1947, the YMCA was the venue of the [[UNSCOP]] talks leading up to the [[UN Partition Plan]].<ref>[https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1947v05/d778 The Consul General at Jerusalem (Macatee) to the Secretary of State]</ref> At the end of April 1948, the building was taken over by the [[International Red Cross]], which used it to shelter around 80 refugees. Two months later, it was used by the United Nations Mediation Committee headed by [[Folke Bernadotte|Count Bernadotte]] and then was taken over by the U.S. Consulate. In April 1949, the building was returned to YMCA.<ref name="ymcahis" />

==== Gaza ====
[[File:Jean Henri Dunant.jpg|thumb|[[Henry Dunant]]]]

In 1952, the YMCA in [[Gaza City]] was started with the support of the [[Egypt]] YMCA, and was a branch of the Egypt YMCA until 1967, when the [[Gaza Strip]] fell under [[Israel]]’s control following the [[Six-Day War]]. Since then, Gaza YMCA has not been associated with any national organization. YMCA Gaza has five major departments: sports, arts, welfare, preschool, and youth. The youth department consists of approximately 80 youth leaders between the ages of 15 and 25 years old.

Despite having a strong Christian identity, the YMCA in Gaza is well respected in the Muslim community. The majority of YMCA attendees are Muslim. The staff are both Muslim and Christian, and the elected board is 100% Christian to balance inclusiveness without losing the YMCA’s Christian identity. The YMCA teaches youth about [[religious tolerance]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-11-16 |title=Occupied Palestinian territory: Report from the International YMCA-YWCA Observer: No. 17 - Gaza - why do you want to go there? - occupied Palestinian territory {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/occupied-palestinian-territory-report-international-ymca-ywc-0 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, Gaza's YMCA served 1,800 youth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-12 |title=YMCA Gaza: thriving beyond despair |url=https://www.ymca.int/ymca-gaza-thriving-beyond-despair/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=World YMCA |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October, November, and December of 2023, the YMCA in Gaza was used as a shelter for hundreds of people from the attacks on Gaza by Israel. On the 17th of December, the building was bombarded and destroyed by Israel, with reports of wounded and killed civilians. The next day, the World YMCA posted a response saying, 
“The World YMCA strongly condemns this horrific attack on civilians and calls on the Israeli government to stop its acts of indiscriminate violence which can only deepen division and which are causing such trauma. Violence begets violence. End it now.”<ref name="YMCA">{{cite web |title=YMCA building in Gaza City hit |url=https://www.ymca.int/ymca-gaza-is-hit/ |website=World YMCA |access-date=18 Dec 2023}}</ref>

=== West Bank ===
There are four YMCA facilities in the West Bank, two of which are in East Jerusalem, one in Beit Sahour, and one in Ramallah. In 1948, the first YMCA in East Jerusalem was established in a tent in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp after nearly 750,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes in the 1948 war. It started programs that provided skills to the refugees and offered assistance to those in need. Later expanding to provide sports fields and further youth development. The facilities were then moved to East Jerusalem, where they provided support for the community during the 1967 war and occupation of the West Bank by Israel. In the Beit Sahour facility, they started a special rehabilitation program for disabled victims caused by injuries from the Israeli occupation forces in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This program is still running. <ref name="Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ">{{cite web |title=East Jerusalem YMCA (Palestine) |url=https://www.globalministries.org/partner/east_jerusalem_ymca/ |website=Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ}}</ref>

=== North America ===
{{Anchor|YMCA of the USA}}

==== Canada ====
{{Further|YMCA of Greater Toronto}}

The first YMCA in [[North America]] opened as a charity in [[Montreal]], Quebec, on 25 November 1851.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The YMCAs of Quebec - Our History |newspaper=Ymca Quebec |url=https://www.ymcaquebec.org/en/About-Us/Our-History }}</ref><ref name="YMCA Canada - Who We Are">{{cite web |title=YMCA Canada - Who We Are |url=https://www.ymca.ca/who-we-are/about-us|access-date=5 December 2024|publisher=YMCA Canada|archive-date=24 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124143250/http://www.ymca.ca/en/who-we-are.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2024}} there were 35 YMCAs and 2 YMCA-YWCAs in Canada, cumulatively serving 2.25&nbsp;million people annually in over 1,700 locations.<ref name="YMCA Canada - Who We Are" /> Programs include children and youth, health, fitness, and recreation, childcare, day and resident camping, employment training, community outreach and newcomer services, international development and education, and leadership development and recognition.<ref name="YMCA Canada - Who We Are" />
Its archives are held by [[Library and Archives Canada]]. Until 1912, when Canadian YMCAs formed their own national council, YMCAs were jointly administered by the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian Associations of North America.

==== United States ====
{{Main|YMCA of the USA}}
{{Further|YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga|YMCA of Greater New York}}

[[File:YMCA Onalaska.jpg|thumb|A YMCA in [[Onalaska, Wisconsin]]]]
[[File:Hollywood YMCA in 2007.jpg|thumb|A YMCA in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood, California]] in 2007]]
[[File:"CANADIAN YMCA Beaver Hut" detail, Beaver Hut Canada YMCA (cropped).jpg|thumb|YMCA's Beaver Hut poster in 1939]]
[[File:Ketchum Downtown YMCA, Front View.jpg|thumb|The Ketchum Downtown YMCA in [[Los Angeles]]]]
[[File:Winona YMCA with Sugar Loaf in the background.jpg|thumb|A YMCA in [[Winona, Minnesota]] in 2024]]

In the [[United States]], YMCA is more commonly known as 'The Y', with national headquarters in [[Chicago]]. It has 800 separate organisational entities affiliated to its national office, based in 2,700 branch locations,<ref name="y-usa-org">{{cite web |date=2017-04-11 |title=Who We Are|url=http://www.ymca.net/organizational-profile|website=YMCA.net}}</ref> working with 21&nbsp;million people, to "strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility."<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Y |url=http://www.ymca.net |access-date=19 April 2015|website=YMCA.org}}</ref> It has about 19,000 staff and 600,000 volunteers.

Major programs include [[After-school activity|after-school activities]], day care, [[youth work]] and physical fitness. A large number of locations have gyms, weight rooms, swimming pools, and sports courts.

The first YMCA in the United States opened on 29 December 1851, in [[Boston]], Massachusetts. It was founded in 1851 by Captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan (1800–59), an American seaman and missionary. In 1853 the Reverend [[Anthony Bowen]] founded the first YMCA for Colored Men in [[Washington, D.C.]] The renamed Anthony Bowen YMCA is still serving the U Street area of Washington. It became a part of YMCA of the city of Washington in 1947. Through the middle part of the 20th century it was associated with covert homosexual subculture, with the athletic facilities providing a refuge and cover for closeted individuals.<ref>Neumann, Caryn E. glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture. [http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/ymca_S.pdf YMCA]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304184310/http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/ymca.html|date=4 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=David K. |title=Take the Stranger by the Hand: Same-Sex Relations and the YMCA |url=http://gaybookreviews.info/review/3397/299 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316031710/http://gaybookreviews.info/review/3397/299 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |access-date=16 March 2012 |website=gaybookreviews.info}}</ref>

YMCAs in the USA are one of the largest charitable nonprofits in the US, by public donations received, as listed by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=YMCA of the USA |url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/ymca/ |access-date=2019-12-21 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> YMCA in the USA is one of the many organizations that espouses [[muscular Christianity]].

Its national archives are located at the [[Kautz Family YMCA Archives|Kautz Family YMCA]], at [[University of Minnesota]] Libraries Department of Archives and Special Collections. More digitally accessible archival information can be found at the Texas Christian University (TCU) Digital Repository.