History

The YMCA was founded in London, England in 1844 by George Williams. The YMCA movement spread across the Atlantic to Boston and Montreal in 1851. Today there are over 2600 YMCAs in the United States and there are YMCAs in 130 different countries. Each YMCA exists solely for their community and is a reflection of the people they serve.

The Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA was a grass roots idea started by a group of local citizens in 1996. These altruistic volunteers completed feasibility studies, market surveys and a successful Founders Campaign, raising the start up funds to bring the YMCA to Kandiyohi County. In 1998, Jeff Filipek was hired as the first Executive Director. From 1998 - 2002 the YMCA used local parks, schools and churches to conduct quality programs that continued to grow at a rapid pace. During this time the YMCA also took possession of the Child Care Center at the Health and Human Services Building. In 2000, a 7.2 million dollar Capital Campaign to construct a YMCA facility in Kandiyohi County began. Construction began in December 2001 and the new YMCA opened to the public on November 11, 2002.

In 2006 Jeff Filipek took a position with the Y of the USA and Theresa Wittenberg was hired as the organization’s second Executive Director.

The YMCA has received a great deal of community support throughout its history. As a non-profit, volunteer led organization, the YMCA has been blessed to have hundreds of community members serve as volunteer Board and Committee members. These policy volunteers are responsible for making sure the YMCA stays true to its mission, safeguards its assets and operates in the public interest. Policy, program and other volunteers are living proof that the community “owns” its YMCA and supports the Y’s charitable mission.