Press Room
For 175 years, the Y has been the place where communities come together and strangers become friends. We’re celebrating a legacy of connection, inclusion, and opportunity—and we’re inviting you to share the story.
Contact media@ymca.net to learn more about the year-long celebration.
Media Coverage
YMCA Celebrates 175 Years of Community Impact
The national resource office for more than 2,600 YMCAs across the country, YMCA of the USA has kicked off a year-long celebration of its 175th anniversary. Since the establishment of the first U.S.-based YMCA in Boston in 1851, the Y has grown into one of the nation’s most influential and enduring nonprofit organizations, building connection and belonging in more than 10,000 communities.
Recreation ManagementYMCA of the USA Launches No Place Like This Place Campaign
In celebration of its 175th anniversary in the U.S., YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), announced the launch of No Place Like This Place, a nationwide advertising and marketing campaign highlighting the diverse ways the Y builds stronger, more connected communities.
Community RecYMCA Celebrates 175 Years in American Culture Through Bold, Energetic Brand Push
The YMCA, known more colloquially as “the Y,” is a name that has long been synonymous with community and connectivity, standing as a community centerpiece, a refuge for those in need and a learning hub where visitors can unlock new facets of fitness. But as social isolation reaches epidemic levels across the U.S., the YMCA is focusing on a different flex: its ability to bring all walks of life together.
Campaign USYMCA Opens Its Doors
Marking its 175th anniversary in the USA, youth organisation YMCA (The Y) has launched this joyful spot, titled No Place Like This Place, with the help of The Martin Agency and Reset director Us.
ShotsY175 Substack Post
In celebration of its 175th anniversary, YMCA of the USA is launching No Place Like This Place, a nationwide campaign developed in partnership with The Martin Agency that highlights the Y’s role in building stronger, more connected communities.
The Brand WavesY175 LinkedIn Post
In celebration of its 175th anniversary, YMCA of the USA is launching No Place Like This Place, a nationwide campaign developed in partnership with The Martin Agency that highlights the Y’s role in building stronger, more connected communities.
The Brand WavesHistorical Images & Archives
Looking for historical YMCA images or archival materials to bring your story to life? Our team can help you access and download curated historical photos and documents from the Y’s 175-year journey.
Contact the PR team at media@ymca.net for more images.
Early basketball games in the 1890s consisted of two teams with nine players, using a soccer ball and peach baskets as goals.
Photo credit: @Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
In 1885, the Y starts Camp Dudley, America’s first known summer camp, at Orange Lake, N.Y. Its aim is to help kids build skills and grow in self-reliance while making new friends. Over the years, the Y creates more family and year-round camps and expands their focus to include environmental stewardship, academics, arts and leadership.
Photo credit: @yarchives
As more women begin to enter the workforce in the 1960s, the Y responds with full-time child development centers to support the needs of these new working parents.
Photo credit: @yarchives
In 2010, to address the growing diabetes epidemic, the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program officially begins expansion. Part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program, the program is part of a new health care delivery system that values prevention efforts offered in a community setting. The first signature program at the Y, DPP helps participants lose weight and increase physical activity with the ultimate goal of preventing new cases of type 2 diabetes.
Photo credit: @yarchives
Press Releases
YMCA of the USA Marks 175 Years of Strengthening Communities Across America
YMCA of the USA Launches “No Place Like This Place” Campaign in Celebration of 175 Anniversary in the United States
December 16, 2025
Media Contacts
For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact media@ymca.net.
About the YMCA
Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community for more than 175 years.
The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide.