ABOUT THE YMCA

The YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area has its roots in the national YMCA, which started in 1844 in London, England. Together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs make up the largest not-for-profit community service organization in America. The YMCA works to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. The YMCA is for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay.

The YMCA goes beyond the United States. YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 45 million people. About 230 YMCAs in the United States maintain relationships with YMCAs in other countries. The YMCA builds strong kids, strong families, strong communities - worldwide.

The YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan started in Cedar Rapids in 1868. Presently, we have three branches, the Helen G. Nassif YMCA, the Marion YMCA, and the Stoney Point YMCA. The association also includes YMCA Camp Wapsie.

 The first YMCA building in Cedar Rapids opened in 1888 on the banks of the Cedar River. The first Central YMCA stood at the corner of First Avenue and First Street NE, the present location of the Tree of Five Seasons sculpture. The water was pumped directly from the Cedar River. Swimmers were encouraged to not wear swim attire because the wool fibers wreaked havoc with the filtering system. The marble used in the pool was originally from Italy.





The Central YMCA at 500 First Avenue NE was built in 1918. The marble from the original pool was used in the pool at the new location. The facility was expanded in 1968. In 1973, another expansion project brought a new pool and gym. The building was last renovated in 1980. Ultimately, renovating the facility proved too cost prohibitive. A feasibility study got underway in 1998 to build a new downtown branch. The Central Y was closed when the Helen G. Nassif YMCA opened at 207 Seventh Ave. SE in August 2002.








When the Central YMCA was demolished in 2004, some of the marble was salvaged. Plans are to use the marble in a display cabinet at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA. Artifacts from the old Central YMCA are housed at The History Center in Cedar Rapids.

The following is a time line of important dates in the YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area history:

1868:   YMCA started for young men in Cedar Rapids

1888:   First building at First Avenue and First Street in Cedar Rapids

1918:   Second building at First Avenue and Fifth Street

1918:   YMCA Camp Wapsie opened southeast of Central City

1921:   Boys over age 12 could join the YMCA

1939:   Women were admitted as voting members

1952:   Ellis and Marion branches organized and chartered in 1955

1953:   YMCA Camp Wapsie moved to present location, northwest of Central City

1959-
1960:  Campaign for Youth: Joint capital campaign with YWCA and Jane Boyd
            Community House  

1963:   New buildings at Ellis and Marion

1969-

1970:   Reorganization of YMCA as a Metropolitan Association

1973:   New addition at Central YMCA dedicated

1975:   Big Brother program sponsored by YMCA

1977:   Health Center Bonds for remodeling

1978:   Capital Campaign; Dormitory Closed

1980:   Expanded and renovated facilities

1984:   Stoney Point YMCA opened

1985:   Metropolitan membership started

1987:   Reorganization of Board structure; Developed 1992 Corporate Goals

1988:   Authorized Capital Development Process

1990:   Sold Ellis facility and entered into service contract with
             Friends of the Ellis Community, Inc.
  
1991:   Received all-time record contributions to annual sustaining
             Partnership With Youth Campaign

2002:   Central YMCA closed; Helen G. Nassif YMCA opened in August

2003:   $2.5 million expansion project completed at Stoney YMCA;
             Grand reopening held in October; Marion YMCA renovated

2004:   Central YMCA demolished:
             Partnership With Youth Campaign is renamed Strong Kids Campaign