IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 172
Recognizing and honoring the Young Men’s Christian Association on the
occasion of its 150th anniversary in the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 25, 2001
Mrs. MORELLA (for herself and Mr. PAYNE) submitted the following concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the Young Men’s Christian Asso-
ciation on the occasion of its 150th anniversary in the
United States.
Whereas 2001 is the 150th anniversary of the Young Men’s
Christian Association (commonly referred to as the
YMCA) in the United States;
Whereas YMCAs have touched the lives of virtually all people
in the United States by pioneering various activities, in-
cluding camping, public libraries, night schools, group
swimming lessons and lifesaving, and teaching English as
a second language;
Whereas YMCAs are dedicated to building strong kids,
strong families, and strong communities;
•HCON 172 IH
Whereas YMCAs serve people of all ages, genders, incomes,
and abilities through a wide variety of services designed
to meet changing community and societal needs;
Whereas every day the more than 2,400 YMCAs in the
United States live their mission through programs that
build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all;
Whereas the YMCA invented the sports of basketball and
volleyball;
Whereas YMCAs are collectively one of the largest providers
of social services to the Nation’s families and commu-
nities, and YMCA programs serve nearly 9,000,000 chil-
dren in the United States each year;
Whereas YMCAs are collectively the Nation’s largest child
care provider, and YMCA programs serve 1 in 10 teen-
agers in the United States and incorporate the values of
caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility;
Whereas YMCAs serve nearly 18,000,000 people each year in
the United States, and each YMCA is volunteer-founded,
volunteer-based, and volunteer-led;
Whereas YMCAs have a long history of partnerships with
other community organizations, including schools, hos-
pitals, police departments, juvenile courts, and housing
authorities;
Whereas YMCAs have provided war relief services since the
Civil War, aiding millions of soldiers at home and abroad;
Whereas YMCA programs inspire a spirit of adventure and
challenge individuals to learn new skills, try new activi-
ties, and explore other cultures, while being good citizens
of their communities;
Whereas Father’s Day began in the YMCA;
•HCON 172 IH
Whereas many organizations began at YMCAs, including the
Boy Scouts of America, the Camp Fire Girls, the Negro
National Baseball League, the Gideons, the Toast-
masters, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life
and History;
Whereas YMCAs helped found the United Service Organiza-
tion;
Whereas the Peace Corps was patterned on a YMCA pro-
gram; and
Whereas YMCAs will continue to provide vital services for the
communities of the United States and serve as a force for
hope for many years: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) honors the Young Men’s Christian Associa-
tion (commonly referred to as the YMCA) for 150
years of building strong kids, strong families, and
strong communities in the United States;
(2) requests the President to issue a proclama-
tion honoring the YMCA for its positive impact in
the United States during the past 150 years; and
(3) expresses support for the continued good
work of the YMCA during the next 150 years.
Æ