The Young Men’s Christian Association has been familiarly called “the Y” for so long that the YMCA of the USA decided to officially adopt that name, along with a vibrant new logo, at their recent General Assembly.
We are still the Young Men’s Christian Association, or YMCA, and a portion of our new logo still spells out “YMCA” (formerly just “Y”). Our mission similarly has not changed since its inception more than 150 years ago – “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.”
We have not dropped the “C” in YMCA! The “Y” and the “M” rightly deserve deletion, however – we have long since offered our services for all, not just “Young Men”. But, alas, common usage prevails.
Locally, the “C” is very much alive and well at the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA. While we are non-denominational, we proudly open our camp day and board meetings with prayer, we use a Christian curriculum at our day care, we teach Christian values in each of our programs, and we even host a Sunday afternoon church service at our Woodmere facility.
Yes, we’re known as “the Y”, but we’re not just a Y!
