When the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad requested a right-of-way into the Old Pueblo in 1914, the city fathers agreed on the condition that the railroad build the city a YMCA. The railroad accepted the deal, a move that has served Tucson well ever since. From the original site at the corner of Congress and Court, the YMCA of Southern Arizona began developing healthful and wholesome programs for young men.



During the ensuing years, the YMCA has continued to grow with Tucson. Today, there are five neighborhood YMCAs and a 400 acre camp in Oracle, Arizona.



The YMCA is a worldwide organization that is active in 120 countries, but each YMCA association is a separate and independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Originally founded as the "Young Men's Christian Association," today half of all YMCA members are female and half are under the age of 18. The modern YMCA's mission is based on ethical principles shared by all faiths, and welcomes everyone regardless of age, income, religion, ethnicity or gender.



The YMCA of Southern Arizona is dedicated to improving the quality of human life and to helping all people realize their fullest potential through the development of Spirit, Mind and Body. Our vision is to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. We do this by implementing the character development values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in our policies, programs and collaborative partnerships. Our YMCA is governed by committed and active volunteers and managed by trained, competent and professional staff. We demonstrate our commitment to diversity through our volunteer leadership, program participation and staffing.