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S.R. No. 79, as introduced: 94th Legislative Session (2025-2026) Posted on April 22, 2026
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Young Men's Christian Association.
1.3WHEREAS, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) has been a part of Minnesota
1.4communities for more than 170 years, with the first YMCA opening in St. Paul in 1856. Today,
1.5the Upper Midwest Alliance has 17 Associations in Minnesota with charters in Albert Lea,
1.6Alexandria, Red Wing, St. Cloud, Worthington, Winona, Mankato, Austin, Marshall, Northfield,
1.7Fergus Falls, Duluth, Itasca County, Kandiyohi County, YMCA of the North, and Camp Olson
1.8YMCA, serving the entire state through the work of more than 7,700 employees and nearly 12,000
1.9volunteers; and
1.10WHEREAS, the YMCA is a trusted community partner that strengthens youth, families,
1.11and communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programs;
1.12and
1.13WHEREAS, the YMCA has played a significant role in American life, including: providing
1.14safe housing during the Industrial Revolution; pioneering the first night school and English as a
1.15second language classes; inventing the game of basketball; delivering the first group swim lessons;
1.16leading humanitarian efforts during wartime, including the work of YMCA leader John R. Mott,
1.17who later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his service and leadership; establishing Youth and
1.18Government in 1936, a civic engagement program that continues to this day and serves more than
1.192,000 young people; serving as the birthplace of Father's Day, first celebrated in 1910; becoming
1.20the nation's leading nonprofit provider of child care and after-school programs beginning in 1970;
1.21and serving as a leading provider of emergency child care for frontline workers and a significant
1.22provider of food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
1.23WHEREAS, nationally, the YMCA remains one of the largest and most impactful charitable
1.24nonprofits in the country, with 2,600 YMCA Associations serving more than 10,000 communities,
2.1employing more than 300,000 staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and providing programs
2.2that engage more than 17 million people annually, including millions of children and youth; and
2.3WHEREAS, in Minnesota, YMCAs continue to provide essential programs that strengthen
2.4families and support health and well-being by creating connected communities and supporting
2.5long-term health outcomes, including: swim lessons and youth water safety; camping and youth
2.6development programs; meal programs; lifestyle health programs; and fitness and wellbeing
2.7programs, including services for older adults, where the YMCA is the nation's largest provider of
2.8fitness programs for seniors; and
2.9NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.10celebrates the 175th anniversary of the YMCA and its enduring contributions to communities across
2.11Minnesota and the nation; recognizes the incredible and ongoing work of the YMCA in Minnesota
2.12in strengthening youth, families, and communities through its programs and services; honors the
2.13YMCA for its unwavering commitment to strengthening families and fostering health, well-being,
2.14and opportunity for all Minnesotans; and encourages all citizens of the State of Minnesota to join
2.15in this celebration and to acknowledge the positive impact of the YMCA in their communities.
1.2celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Young Men's Christian Association.
1.3WHEREAS, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) has been a part of Minnesota
1.4communities for more than 170 years, with the first YMCA opening in St. Paul in 1856. Today,
1.5the Upper Midwest Alliance has 17 Associations in Minnesota with charters in Albert Lea,
1.6Alexandria, Red Wing, St. Cloud, Worthington, Winona, Mankato, Austin, Marshall, Northfield,
1.7Fergus Falls, Duluth, Itasca County, Kandiyohi County, YMCA of the North, and Camp Olson
1.8YMCA, serving the entire state through the work of more than 7,700 employees and nearly 12,000
1.9volunteers; and
1.10WHEREAS, the YMCA is a trusted community partner that strengthens youth, families,
1.11and communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programs;
1.12and
1.13WHEREAS, the YMCA has played a significant role in American life, including: providing
1.14safe housing during the Industrial Revolution; pioneering the first night school and English as a
1.15second language classes; inventing the game of basketball; delivering the first group swim lessons;
1.16leading humanitarian efforts during wartime, including the work of YMCA leader John R. Mott,
1.17who later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his service and leadership; establishing Youth and
1.18Government in 1936, a civic engagement program that continues to this day and serves more than
1.192,000 young people; serving as the birthplace of Father's Day, first celebrated in 1910; becoming
1.20the nation's leading nonprofit provider of child care and after-school programs beginning in 1970;
1.21and serving as a leading provider of emergency child care for frontline workers and a significant
1.22provider of food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
1.23WHEREAS, nationally, the YMCA remains one of the largest and most impactful charitable
1.24nonprofits in the country, with 2,600 YMCA Associations serving more than 10,000 communities,
2.1employing more than 300,000 staff and hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and providing programs
2.2that engage more than 17 million people annually, including millions of children and youth; and
2.3WHEREAS, in Minnesota, YMCAs continue to provide essential programs that strengthen
2.4families and support health and well-being by creating connected communities and supporting
2.5long-term health outcomes, including: swim lessons and youth water safety; camping and youth
2.6development programs; meal programs; lifestyle health programs; and fitness and wellbeing
2.7programs, including services for older adults, where the YMCA is the nation's largest provider of
2.8fitness programs for seniors; and
2.9NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.10celebrates the 175th anniversary of the YMCA and its enduring contributions to communities across
2.11Minnesota and the nation; recognizes the incredible and ongoing work of the YMCA in Minnesota
2.12in strengthening youth, families, and communities through its programs and services; honors the
2.13YMCA for its unwavering commitment to strengthening families and fostering health, well-being,
2.14and opportunity for all Minnesotans; and encourages all citizens of the State of Minnesota to join
2.15in this celebration and to acknowledge the positive impact of the YMCA in their communities.
| Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate | Erin P. MurphyChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration |
| Steve A. CwodzinskiState Senator, District 49 |