Young Men's Christian Association Of Birmingham history

Inspired by the stories of the Y in England, he led the formation of the first United States YMCA at the Old South Church in Boston on December 29, 1851.

1855: YMCA delegates met in Paris, France, at the First World Conference of YMCAs, marking the beginning of the World Alliance of YMCAs.

In 1860 the Brooklyn YMCA planned a building that would cost $50,000 and would be large enough for meeting rooms, a library, reading room, baths, a bowling alley, and a gymnasium (Boston Investigator, February 29, 1860).

In May 1861 the New York Association formed the Army Committee.

1865: The Fourth World Conference of YMCAs, Germany, affirmed the importance of developing the whole individual in body, mind and spirit.

The focus of the YMCA in the early years "was on saving souls, with saloon and street corner preaching," but by 1866 the New York YMCA adopted the fourfold purpose of improving the "spiritual, mental, social, and physical condition of men" ("History of the YMCA Movement").

1878: The World Alliance offices were established in Geneva, Switzerland, where they have been ever since.

Norway adopted this policy in 1880.

Since opening our doors in 1884 here in Birmingham, our focus has remained the same: to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gap in community needs.

YMCA camping began in 1885 when Camp Baldhead (later known as Camp Dudley) was established by George A. Sanford and Sumner F. Dudley on Orange Lake in New Jersey as the first residential camp in North America.

Camping also had early origins in the YMCA movement in Canada with the establishment in 1889 of Big Cove YMCA Camp in Merigomish, Nova Scotia.

The camp moved to Lake Wawayanda in Sussex County, New Jersey the following year and then to the shore of Lake Champlain near Westport, New York in 1891.

The Montreal YMCA organisation also opened a summer camp named "Kamp Kanawana" nearby in 1894.

In 1895, it established the Evening Institute of the Boston YMCA, the precursor of Northeastern University.

Established in 1900, Sutton Coldfield Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) has provided support and services to the local, North Birmingham, community for one hundred and fifteen years.

In 1912, the Negro Secretary of the National Board of the YWCA, Eva Bowles, visits and helps establish this branch with over 800 members.

During the First World War (1914-18), the Poppy was introduced by an American YMCA worker as a remembrance to those killed in the war

1916: K.T. Paul became the first Indian National General Secretary of India.

In 1919, YMCA began their Storer Camps chain around the country.

The method became very popular, and in 1923, it led to the founding of the Chinese National Association of the Mass Education Movement.

In 1926 the organization purchased the former Birmingham Athletic Club building across the street at 505 20th Street from the Robert E. Lee Klan for $200,000.

The Legacy BeginsAnna Somerville McLester becomes President, serving until 1933.

In 1940, the YMCA opened it's first branch away from their downtown location in Five Points South.

1947: The World Alliance of YMCAs gained special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

1955: The First African President of the World Alliance of YMCAs was elected, Mr.

Carrie B. Allen becomes Director in 1956.

1973: The Sixth World Council in Kampala, Uganda, was the first World Council in Africa.

1985: The World Council of YMCAs passed a resolution against apartheid, and campaigns against the system began under the leadership of Mr.

In 1998, at the 14th World Council of YMCAs, the World Alliance of YMCAs adopted Challenge 21 as its modern day statement of mission for the 21st century:

Founded in 2000 by Scott Reall, Restore provides support groups and individual counseling with an aim of “lifting the ‘C’” (of the YMCA).

Responding to a number of variables, including making the program more culturally sensitive and attracting a broader audience, in 2003 the program evolved into what is now known nationally as "YMCA Adventure Guides"; "Trailblazers" is the YMCA's parent/child program for older kids.

In 2005, the YMCA purchased four branches of SportsFirst from the Baptist Health System for use as branches: Greystone, Mountain Brook, Trussville, and Vestavia.

In 2006, YMCA Indian Guides celebrated 80 years as a YMCA program.

In 2011, what is currently the association's largest single facility opened in Hoover.