About Us

The YMCA organization was founded more than 150 years ago in London. It has far transcended its roots of aiding the spiritual needs of young men coming to work in the new urban factories. Today YMCAs serve over 30 million people in 120 countries around the world.

DID YOU KNOW... YMCAs:

• Invented basketball, volleyball, softball, and racquetball
• Pioneered camping, physical fitness, and swimming pools
• Teach more swimming lessons than any other organization
• Operate the largest after-school child care program in the U.S.
• Helped found Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire Girls, and the USO
• Through volunteers, provided support and services to millions of soldiers, beginning with the Civil War
• Admitted women and girls to full membership after WW II

This tradition of serving a diverse community lives on today as is evident by...

Nationwide 2006 YMCA Statistics:

From "healthy mind, body, and spirit" to today's mission of "building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities," the Y thrives today because it continues to understand and provide the services what each community needs to better itself.

YMCA in ELGIN
The YMCA first opened in Elgin in 1866. We serve 3800 members in Fox River Valley communities such as Elgin, South Elgin, Gilberts, Dundee, Carpentersville, Hampshire, Geneva, Streamwood, and Bartlett. Special membership rates apply to Youths, Teens/students, Families, Seniors, and Single parent families. We are a charitable not-for-profit community service organization. (Section 501(c)(3)). With the help of charitable donations, we offer scholarship aid to qualifying members, so that "no youth is turned away for inability to pay". During our program year, we logged:

• 33,600 visits to our health and fitness facilities and classes
• 9875 program participants
• 1325 children in swim lessons
• 185 participants in youth sports
• 850 youth participants in summer programs in Elgin and Camp Edwards
  

Meet our Staff