SR 671: YMCA; recognize

Senate Resolution 671

By: Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Brass of the 6th, Echols of the 49th, Dickerson of the 21st, Hodges of the 3rd and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the YMCA upon its 175th anniversary; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, in 2026, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is celebrating its 175th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, inspired by the YMCA movement in England and with a mission to put Christian principles into practice by building a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, Thomas Valentine Sullivan founded the YMCA at the Old South Church in Boston on December 29, 1851; and

WHEREAS, the YMCA has continually adapted to meet evolving needs of American communities, strengthening society by bringing people together, fostering relationships, and creating a sense of belonging; and

WHEREAS, the YMCA's legacy includes: providing safe housing during the Industrial Revolution; pioneering the first night school and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes; inventing basketball; delivering the first group swim lessons; leading humanitarian efforts during wartime, including the work of YMCA leader and President Wilson's General Secretary for the National War Work Council, John R. Mott, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for the undertaking; establishing the Youth and Government program in 1936, a premier civic engagement initiative that continues today; serving as the birthplace of Father's Day, with the first celebration held at the Spokane YMCA in 1910; becoming the nation's leading nonprofit provider of child care and afterschool programs since the 1970s and 1980s supporting working families; and serving as the leading provider of emergency child care for front line workers and a significant provider of food during the pandemic; and

WHEREAS, today 2,600 YMCAs serve more than 10,000 communities in every state and territory, with more than 300,000 staff and 350,00 volunteers delivering essential programs to over 17 million people annually, including almost 11 million adults and 6.5 million children and youth; and

WHEREAS, the first YMCA in Georgia opened in 1855 in Savannah and today, 16 YMCAs serve communities in Georgia through the collective impact of more than 8,300 staff and 8,600 volunteers providing essential programs and services; and

WHEREAS, the YMCA is a leader in providing swim lessons, camping, youth sports, meal programs, lifestyle health, fitness and well-being programs, and is the largest provider of fitness programs for older adults; and

WHEREAS, the YMCA is the nation's largest nonprofit provider of childcare and afterschool programs; and

WHEREAS, the YMCA serves people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, creating spaces where all people feel welcome, are treated with respect and find opportunities to connect with their neighbors; and

WHEREAS, YMCAs across the nation are working to build stronger, more connected communities through intentional experiences that help people achieve their goals, foster connection and promote well-being in order to build relationships and thrive; and

WHEREAS, in 2026, YMCAs nationwide will host special events that celebrate the moments, programs, and people who've shaped their story.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the YMCA's role in responding to community needs, connecting people, fostering support, building relationships and a sense of belonging; commend the hundreds of thousands of staff and volunteers who create connected communities and advance the Y's mission to build healthy spirits, minds, and bodies for all; encourage continued support for the efforts to address social isolation and loneliness by creating places and spaces that promote achievement, well-being, and connection and help people build relationships and thrive; and congratulate the YMCA for 175 years of service to the nation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the YMCA.