Great Things Were Created At The Y

The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas was founded in 1885, but the YMCA movement started long before in 1844. Since the beginning, the Y has sought to support and meet community needs, and in doing so, some great games, programs, history, and celebrations came to be!

Our organization continues to evolve with our communities and strives to meet our our mission every single day. While the great things created at the Y, highlighted below, happened in the past, know that we're not finished yet! We hope you'll come with us on our journey to create more in our efforts to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body FOR ALL.

FATHER'S DAY

Sonora Smart Dodd founded Father's Day at the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910.

BASKETBALL

James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891 at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, MA.

GROUP SWIM LESSONS

George Corsan created group swim lessons at the Detroit YMCA in 1909.

VOLLEYBALL

YMCA Physical Education Director William G. Morgan invented the game of volleyball in Holyoke, MA in 1985.

RACQUETBALL

YMCA volunteer Joe Sobek invented the game of racquetball in Greenwich, CT in 1950.

SUMMER CAMP

The YMCA's Camp Dudley is America's first known summer camp program, and was founded in 1885 at Orange Lake, NY.