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Our Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Our Cause
To strengthen communities by focusing on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Our Values
- Caring – Show a sincere concern for others.
- Honesty – Be truthful in what you say and do.
- Respect – Follow the golden rule.
- Responsibility – Be accountable for your promises and actions.
Our Equity Statement
The Rogue Valley Family YMCA is committed to being a welcoming community for all people as they work toward achieving their full potential in spirit, mind, and body. We believe that this can only happen when the members of the community feel safe and valued. Therefore, the YMCA welcomes everyone from all dimensions of diversity. Our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility guide our behavior as we work to engage diverse perspectives, promote equity, and ensure inclusiveness for the benefit of the entire community.
Our Finances
The YMCA is supported by the community through dues, fees, and donations. After 2020 and Covid, we are a 3.5 million dollar organization with revenues of approximately 12% in membership dues, 25% in program fees, and 63% in donations. We spent approximately 76% on wages, 7% on occupancy, 8% on supplies & equipment, 2% on financing, and 7% on other expenses. Our legal name is the Young Mens Christian Association of Medford, Oregon. Our tax id number is 93-0391645. To see the details of our finances, or any non-profit organization, then visit GuideStar.
Our History
History of the Rogue Valley Family YMCA
The Young Men’s Christian Association of Medford, Oregon doing business as the Rogue Valley Family YMCA becomes incorporated in what was the Federal building on North Riverside Avenue. The YMCA used the Masonic Hall and space over the old Acme Hardware Store on Sixth Street before moving to the present building which was constructed in 1948-1949. The YMCA continues to deliver on the mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The YMCA is a 501c3, community based non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. YMCA programs seek to prevent negative behaviors, promote positive experiences, and provide healthy choices. Read the full list of historical highlights.
History of YMCAs across the United States
In 1851, Thomas Sullivan founded the first YMCA in Boston, Massachusetts inspired by the stories of the Y in England. The Y invented basketball, volleyball, and racquetball along with starting group swimming lessons, ESL classes, Father’s Day, summer camp, and so much more. The Y has helped many organizations get their start like the YWCA, Boy Scouts, USO, Gideons, and Toastmasters to name a few. A receipt from 1869 showed that the YMCA annual dues were just $2/year. The Y even helped President Kennedy form the Peace Corp. Now across the country, the Y engages about 9 million youth and 12 million adults in 10,000 communities. To learn more national history: www.ymca.net/history/. The Y also has a long history of encouraging young people to engage in civics learn more about the effort of the Youth & Government program.
History of YMCAs around the world
In 1844, George Williams founded the first YMCA in London, England. His objective was the “improvement of the spiritual condition of the young men engaged in houses of business, by the formation of Bible classes, family and social prayer meetings, mutual improvement societies, or any other spiritual agency.” Now around the world, the Y serves more than 45 million people in 119 countries.
Our International Initiatives
One of the most important aspects of building a global community is giving young people and adults opportunities to understand and celebrate diversity. The Y helps people to develop cultural competencies and the key skills to collaborate with their peers around the world.
A global curriculum in camping and afterschool programs to international service-learning opportunities and partnerships, the Y gives people the knowledge, experience, and confidence to successfully interact in our increasingly globalized society.
Locally, the Rogue Valley Family YMCA has a number of International Initiatives:
- Overseas Partnership – Our Y has a partnership with the YMCA in Hokkaido, Japan (www.hokkaido-ymca.or.jp). In addition, we have sent our very own local staff to visit YMCAs in Czech Republic, England, Guatemala, Japan, Panama, and Taiwan. Learn about the worldwide YMCA movement at www.ymca.int.
- International Conferences – Staff and teens have attended international conferences in other countries. Take a look at the team who visited London, England in August of 2019.
- Summer Camp Counselors – Each summer we have staff that come from other countries to help with camp. In previous years we had counselors come from Australia, Columbia, England, Scotland, and Switzerland.
- Homestay Families – Local community members host our international visitors by having them stay in their homes and help with meals and transportation. Please let us know if you’d like to help in this way.
- World Service Campaign – Each year our local Y contributes to the World Service Campaign that distributes resources to Ys in other countries operating in difficult social and economic conditions. Learn more at www.ymca.net/world-service.
- World YMCA and World YWCA Week of Prayer and World Fellowship – Each year in November, Y’s around the globe emphasize prayer and fellowship. Take a look at the 2022 prayer booklet.
Teenagers Camilo Villagrana and Scarlet Moit represented our YMCA at the 20th YMCA World Council in Aarhus, Denmark in July of 2022. They worked on the World YMCA Shared Vision 2030, click the link to learn more.
