-
YMCA volunteers nationwide would fill the San Jose
Arena more than 30 times.
-
Father's Day was started at
a Y in 1909.
-
The Y invented basketball, volleyball and raquetball,
and pioneered camping, physical fitness and swimming
lessons.
-
YMCA residences played a vital part in American society.
Staying in a YMCA room has been mentioned many times
in song and literature. Famous people who stayed at
Y residences include Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's
restaurants, country music star Charlie Rich and black
recolutionary Malcolm X.
-
The Y helped found the USO, Boy Scouts and Camp Fire
Girls.
-
Curly Neal of the Harlem Globetrotters learned to
play basketball at the Y.
-
The Y's efforts during World War II inspired songs
like Irving Berlin' s "I Can Always Find a Little
Sunshine in the YMCA". Another song, "The
Meaning of YMCA (You Must Come Across)" included
the lyric, "They've done their bit and more. To
help us win the war... The Y is right there on the firing
line." The Village People's "YMCA"
song from the 1970s, remains the unofficial theme song
for the organization.
-
The Y is the nation's largest not-for-profit provider
of child care, and is larger than any for-profit company
in the United States.
-
First launched in London, England in 1844, Ys are
collectively the largest operator of swimming pools
in the world.
-
Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith
at a Y, the only major sport to have originated entirely
in the United States. Jewish basketball players, denied
entry to other sports, picked up the game at YMCAs and
became stars in the professional leagues. Click
here to learn the original rules of basketball.
-
Hallmark Cards and the Negro
Baseball League were founded in YMCA residences.
Did you Know? 