About Your YMCA of Northern Michigan
Together, the nation's more than 2,400 YMCA's are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 17.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the USA. Y’s are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCA's strength is in the people they bring together.
Because all communities have different needs, all YMCA's are different.
A YMCA in your community may offer childcare or teen leadership clubs. A Y in the next town may have swimming lessons or drawing classes. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate.
YMCA's stretch beyond the United States. YMCA's are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 30 million people. About 230 U.S. YMCA's maintain relationships with Y's in other countries. So the YMCA really does build strong kids, strong families and strong communities – worldwide.
YMCA of Northern Michigan is striving to be a leading non-profit organization, serving Emmet & Charlevoix counties.
History of the YMCA of Northern Michigan
April 2001 - Several families contact theYMCA of USA about establishing a Y in Petoskey
December 2001 - Community founders group agrees to work with the State YMCA of Michigan to establish a YMCA
2002 - 2003 - Working with community volunteers a Founders Campaign is conducted - goal to raise $300,000. Successfully completed April 2003
November 2002 - A community advisory board is established to work with YMCA staff formation of YMCA
May 2003 - YMCA Board of Directors is formed
August 2003 - Full time YMCA Program Director hired; afterschool program started at Central Elementary School
October 2003 - Y involves high school students in the development of the Y-Center
December 2003 - Y-Center opens in IOOF building on Howard Street
June 2005 - New day camp program started in collaboration with Emmet County Park & Rec.; 207 children
January 2006 - Youth sports program offered in Harbor Springs
2004 - 2008 New programs are started, collaborations estblished; over 2,700 youth and teens use Y-Center or in Y programs