PRINTER'S NO. 1057
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
180
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, BREWSTER, SANTARSIERO, KILLION,
BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, SABATINA, COSTA, SCHWANK, FARNESE,
MARTIN, J. WARD AND GORDNER, JUNE 24, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 24, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Congratulating the YMCA on its 175th birthday.
WHEREAS, The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was
founded in England on June 6, 1844, by George Williams as a
refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape
from the hazards of life on the London streets; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Valentine Sullivan, a marine missionary,
identified a need to create a safe haven for sailors and
merchants and established the first YMCA in the United States in
Boston, Massachusetts, on December 29, 1851; and
WHEREAS, In 1853, Anthony Bowen, a freed slave, founded the
first YMCA for African Americans in Washington, DC; and
WHEREAS, The YMCA, in recognizing the need to provide safe
and affordable housing, opened the first dormitory in 1867 and
provided gymnasiums, auditoriums and hotel-style rooms for young
men moving to cities from rural communities; and
WHEREAS, Camping became a cornerstone of the YMCA in 1885
when Camp Dudley opened in Orange Lake, New York, to provide
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children with a positive developmental experience through making
new friends, building confidence and growing in self-reliance;
and
WHEREAS, The end of World War I saw women and individuals of
all races and religions become members and active volunteers;
and
WHEREAS, In 1967, the YMCA became one of the first
organizations in the United States to ban racial discrimination
while many African-American YMCAs became meeting places and
rallying points for the Civil Rights Movement; and
WHEREAS, In the 1980s and 1990s, baby boomers with families
became more prominent as members and YMCAs responded by creating
specific programs like family swims and family nights, providing
families with opportunities to play, interact and have fun; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, the YMCA established the National Diversity
Initiative to support the YMCA Movement in valuing the diversity
of all people within its associations and the communities it
serves; and
WHEREAS, The YMCA has played an active and important role in
responding to world crises and natural disasters such as 9/11,
the Pacific Rim tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the Haitian
earthquake; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian
principles into practice through programs that build a healthy
spirit, mind and body for all; and
WHEREAS, Character is reflected in the movement as the
demonstration of the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty,
respect and responsibility and is intentionally modeled by YMCA
staff for children, youths, adult members and volunteers; and
WHEREAS, The YMCA establishes youth development, healthy
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living and social responsibility; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate congratulate the YMCA on its 175th
birthday; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate acknowledge the positive and
important contributions the YMCA has made in communities across
the world and across this Commonwealth.
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