There are over 2000 YMCA's in the United States and over 4000 worldwide. During its long and distinguished history, YMCA's have been known for their tradition of program innovations to better serve members and communities. The following are just a few YMCA "firsts" given to us all:

• Volleyball - Created by the YMCA in 1895.
• Racquetball - Originated by Joe Solbeck in the Greenwich, Connecticut YMCA.
• Softball - Developed by a physical director in the Denver YMCA.
• Basketball - Originated by the YMCA at Springfield College, Massachusetts in 1891.
• Systematic Certifications - The YMCA was the first to establish certification programs for Life Saving, Swimming and Aquatic Instruction.
• Boy Scouts - Originated under YMCA leadership. The first Chief Scout Executive was a Washington, DC YMCA volunteer.

The Garden City Family YMCA is celebrating 44 years of serving our community. The YMCA has been serving programs and services to individuals and families regardless of age, sex, race, religion, national origin or financial ability. The YMCA is an independent, not-for-profit association of members, volunteers, contributors and staff whose common goal is to provide quality programs to enhance human and community growth an development.

The YMCA has some 3,000 members and over 9,000 participants. We have over 300 program volunteers, over 50 support drive campaigners, 80 endowment (Heritage Club) members, 30 committee and policy making volunteers, as well as the professional staff and 65 part-time employees to manage, teach, referee, officiate, supervise and provide service. We have approximately 30 corporations with five or more members in our Corporate Membership plan.

Our Aquatics, Child Care, Youth & Adult Sports, Fitness are strong and growing in numbers. We have several leagues and tournaments in several sports each year and innovating new programs such as tackle football, in-line hockey, indoor soccer, camp programs and many, many more. The Corporate Cup Challenge stresses to build healthy employees for healthy companies and does just that with 12 businesses involved last year. The continuity of innovative programs and our enduring values taught through hundreds of volunteers enable us to say, "we build strong kids, strong families, strong communities".

Thanks for a lifetime of memories and help us make a lasting impression for another 44 years.

The fact that YMCA's throughout the world have been building strong kids, strong families, strong communities for more than 150 years is not as important as what we'll do tomorrow.

A historical perspective is vital. But it is not as vital as the future. Because the future is where we will all spend the rest of our lives. Your YMCA is working today to design and implement the programs that will influence generation after generation of boys and girls. Consider the reality that today's preschool child care participant will have his or her own family in 20 years or so Today's learn-to-swim student will graduate from college in only 15 years. And today's summer camper becomes a valued employee in just 10 years. Who will instill the values we hold so dear in these youngsters? For generations past, you YMCA has. For generations to come, your YMCA will. Your YMCA works diligently to help provide the physical, spiritual, and social assets kids, families and communities need to be strong and successful.

Like you, the YMCA is baking on the future - our nations kids, our nations families and our nations communities. In every activity from racquetball lessons to competitive swimming, from aerobics to summer camp; lessons of honesty, helpfulness, respectfulness, responsibility, living a healthy lifestyle and doing your best - what we call character development - are repeated with each generation. It is indeed, learning by living.

We welcome you to join us in our quest for a much better tomorrow as we help build strong kids, strong families, strong communities. When it comes right down to it, there is nothing more important.