2025-2026UNOFFICIAL BillCOPY 994:26 RS BR 1949 A RESOLUTION honoring the YMCA on the organization's 175th anniversary in the United States.

YMCAWHEREAS, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) marks its 175th Anniversaryanniversary -in Souththe CarolinaUnited LegislatureStates Onlinein South2026, Carolinahaving Generalbeen Assembly126thfounded Session,this 2025-2026Downloadcountry Thisby BillThomas inValentine MicrosoftSullivan Wordat FormatIndicatesthe MatterOld StrickenIndicatesSouth NewChurch MatterS.in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 29, 1851;

994STATUSand INFORMATIONConcurrentWHEREAS, ResolutionSponsors:inspired by the YMCA movement in England, the organization has carried on the mission to put Christian principles into practice by building healthy spirit, mind, and body for all;

Senatorand StubbsDocumentWHEREAS, Path:the YMCA has continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of American communities, strengthening society by bringing people together, fostering relationships, and creating a sense of belonging;

LC-0561SA-EB26.docxIntroducedand inWHEREAS, the SenateYMCA's onlegacy Marchincludes 10,providing 2026Introducedsafe inhousing during the Houseindustrial onrevolution, Marchpioneering 11,the 2026Adoptedfirst bynight theschool Generaland AssemblyEnglish onas Marcha 11,second 2026Summary:language classes, inventing basketball, and providing the first group swim lessons;

YMCAand 175thWHEREAS, AnniversaryHISTORYthe OFYMCA LEGISLATIVEserved ACTIONSas Datethe Bodybirthplace Actionof DescriptionFather's withDay, journal page number 3/10/2026 Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House (Senate Journal-page 8) 3/11/2026 House Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence (House Journal-page 19) View the latestfirst legislativecelebration informationheld at the websiteVERSIONS OF THIS BILL03/10/2026                 A concurrent RESOLUTION   TO CONGRATULATE AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO THE YMCA FORin 175Spokane, YEARSWashington, OFin SERVICE1910; TO THE NATION, TO COMMEND THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, AND TO ENCOURAGE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS BY CREATING PLACES AND SPACES THAT PROMOTE ACHIEVEMENT, WELL-BEING, AND CONNECTION.

 established Whereas, inspired by the movementYouth in England to put Christian principles into practice by building healthy spirt, mind, and bodyGovernment forProgram all, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in the1936, Uniteda Statespremier bycivic Thomasengagement Valentineinitiative Sullivanthat atcontinues thetoday; Old South Church in Boston on December 29, 1851, and marks its 175th anniversary this year;

and  led Whereas,humanitarian theefforts YMCAduring haswartime, continuallyincluding adaptedthe towork meet evolving needs of AmericanJohn communities,R. strengthening society by bringing people together, fostering relationships and support, and creating a sense of belonging;

Mott, YMCA leader and  President Whereas,Woodrow Wilson's general secretary for the YMCANational hasWar aWork longCouncil, andwho impressivereceived legacy.the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for undertaking such efforts;

Theyand providedWHEREAS, safethe housingYMCA duringhas become the Industrialnation's Revolution,leading pioneerednonprofit theprovider firstof nightchild schoolcare and Englishafterschool programs since the 1970s and 1980s to support working families, has served as athe Secondleading Languageprovider (ESL)of classes,emergency inventedchild basketball,care for frontline workers, and deliveredwas thea firstsignificant groupprovider swimmingof lessons.food during the coronavirus pandemic;

Theyand ledWHEREAS, humanitariantoday, effortsnearly during2,600 wartime,YMCAs includingserve themore workthan 10,000 communities Page 1 of John2 R.XXXX 1/27/2026 2:04 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1949 across every state and territory, with more than 300,000 staff and 350,000 volunteers delivering essential programs to over 17 million people annually, including almost 11 million adults, and 6.5 million children and youth;

Mott,and theWHEREAS, YMCA17 leaderYMCAs, who3000 receivedstaff amembers, Nobeland Peacehundreds Prizeof volunteers in 1946Kentucky forprovide promotingcritical peaceservices acrossincluding nationalchildcare, boundaries,afterschool asenrichment, wellsummer ascamps, establishedteen theleadership Youthprograms, andswim Governmentsafety programlessons, insenior 1936,wellness aprograms, premierand civicaccess engagementto initiativenutritious thatmeals continuesto today.more than 150,000 individuals annually;

Theand WHEREAS, the YMCA is thea birthplaceleader ofin Father'sproviding Day,swim withlessons, thecamping firstprograms, celebrationyouth heldsports, atmeal theprograms, Spokanelifestyle YMCAhealth, inand 1910fitness and supportswell-being workingprograms, familiesand asis the nation'slargest leading nonprofit provider of childcarefitness and afterschool programs sincefor theolder 1970s.adults;

Theand WHEREAS, the YMCA alsoserves servedpeople asof theall leadingages, providerbackgrounds, ofand emergencyabilities, childcarecreating forspaces frontwhere lineall workerspeople andfeel awelcome, significantare providertreated ofwith foodrespect, duringand thefind pandemic;opportunities to connect with their neighbors;

and  WHEREAS, Whereas, today 2,600 YMCAs serveacross morethe thannation 10,000are communitiesworking into everybuild statestronger, and territory, with more thanconnected 300,000communities staffthrough andintentional 350,000experiences volunteers delivering essential programs that createhelp connectedpeople communitiesachieve totheir overgoals, 17foster millionconnection, peopleand annually,promote includingwell-being almostin 11order millionto adultsbuild andrelationships 6.5 million children and youth;thrive;

andNOW,  THEREFORE, Whereas,Be theit firstresolved YMCAby inthe SouthSenate Carolinaof openedthe inGeneral CharlestonAssembly in 1866, and today 20 YMCAs serve communities across South Carolina, engaging one out of every 18 South Carolinians through the collectiveCommonwealth impact of moreKentucky: than 7,700 staff and 6,700 volunteers who provide services such as swimming lessons, camping, youth sports, meal programs, and lifestyle, health, fitness, and well-being programs;

andSection  1. Whereas, the YMCA serves people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, creating spaces where all people feel welcome, are treated with respect, and find opportunities to connect with their neighbors.

YMCAsThe acrossmembers of the nationSenate arehereby workinghonor toand buildexpress stronger,appreciation moreto connectedthe communitiesYMCA throughfor intentional175 experiencesyears thatof helpservice peopleto achievethe theirnation, goals,and fosterrecognize connection,the andYMCA’s promoterole well-being in orderresponding to buildcommunity relationshipsneeds, fostering belonging, creating connection, and thrive.supporting families and individuals across generations.

InSection 2026,2. YMCAs nationwide will host special events that celebrate the moments, programs, and people who have shaped their story.

Now,The therefore,Clerk  of Bethe itSenate resolvedis bydirected theto Senate,transmit thea Housecopy of Representativesthis concurring:Resolution to Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe.

 Page That2 the members of the2 SouthXXXX Carolina1/27/2026 General2:04 Assembly,PM byJacketed this resolution, congratulate and express appreciation to the YMCA for 175 years of service to the nation, commend the hundreds of thousands of staff and volunteers, and encourage continued support for their efforts to address social isolation and loneliness by creating places and spaces that promote achievement, well-being, and connection.

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