Nonprofit: The YMCA by Kevin Puetz

The Young Men's Christian Association, or YMCA, is one of the most well known and distinguished of the nonprofit organizations that exist in the world today. Founded in London, England during the mid 1800's, the YMCA has gone on to open over 2,500 locations in the United States alone. These facilities function as community sports facilities, providing ammenities such as weight rooms, swimming pools, and basketball courts, all for a relatively low cost membership fee.

Much of my personal experience with this organization comes from visits to the local YMCA of my hometown of Loves Park, IL. A relatively new facility, the YMCA of Loves Park cost 12 million dollars to build and features state of the art weight training equipment by FreeMotion. The location also includes an 1,800 square foot physical therapy clinic provided by SwedishAmerican hospital. With physical therapists available for assistance, this clinic allows patients recovering from injuries to build a healthy lifestyle through exercise. In addition to these amenities, this particular location also features a pool with water park type features, basketball courts, outdoor playing fields, personal training, and fitness classes. Another important feature of this location is a child-care center, where parents can leave children up to 6 years of age while using the facilities.


There are a variety of careers offered through the YMCA, along with special benefits to those with the drive for service in the community. The most common position available at my local YMCA would be those in the service areas, such as the welcome center, locker rooms, training rooms, and life guard positions. According to the YMCA's job application form, which is available online, these positions are relatively easy to attain, with requirements being that the applicant is over 18 years of age along with a clean record. There are also several other employment opportunities such as gymnastics, sports, and swim instructors, along with personal trainers. Each of these positions require additional training.

Currently, the YMCA competes with many other private fitness organizations. What makes the YMCA so much different then these other for-profit organizations is the fact that it offers many other services other than being a fitness center. One such example of this, would be the Y-Guides program which has provided structured community building opportunities for children since the early 1900's. This program has allowed children to participate in campouts, hiking, and other outdoor activities. All of these programs are designed to promote character and leadership building, along with a
strong emphasis on community service.

The YMCA's definition of leisure is stated boldly in their missions statement, "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all." They have existed not only for Christians or young men, as their name may imply, but for the betterment of the entire community. The YMCA serves an important role to the population by providing its services to the community with a volunteer and non-profit aspect. They exist not only as a place to simply workout, but also as a place to build a healthy mind and spirit.

Overall, I have greatly enjoyed my experiences at the YMCA over the years. Having been a member since a young age, I believe that I can safely say that they are a true value to the community. With their affordable membership fees I believe that they are a bargain for the services that they offer. Whether it be lifting weights, running, swimming, or playing team sports, there is a place for people of any age and demographic at the YMCA. A career at the YMCA is perfect for those with a strong desire in seeing the health and well-being of the population increased. Even part-time positions can be worthwhile, allowing an employee free membership and access to all of the services offered. This may be attractive to those looking for a second job, yet also wish to increase their health and well-being at the same time. Although most of the career openings, besides upper management, do not necessarily come with a high salary, those with a strong interest in health and fitness would surely find their niche working there. Overall, I believe that the Nonprofit aspect of the YMCA is what sets it apart from other fitness centers in the leisure delivery system. Where other agencies may not, the YMCA truly wishes to make an impact on the lives of its members.