What is the YMCA?
The YMCA, the Young Men’s Christian Association, is a world-wide movement started in London, England in 1844. It was created at a time when many young men were living alone on the streets, having moved to the urban center to work in newly industrialized and urban jobs. Often times living in destitute and unsafe conditions, the YMCA was a pioneer in crossing class and church lines to provide a Christian alternatives to the hardships and dangers of life on the streets.
The YMCA of Greater Charlotte, a United Way member agency, is comprised of 21 locations, 900 square miles with more program sites in Southern Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte reaches 260,819 people, including 87,445 children and teens, through membership, program participation, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
