SERVICES

HISTORIES YMCA of Greater Boston One of the oldest social service organizations in the country, the YMCA of Greater Boston has evolved from a small, storefront evangelical association dedicated to improving the spiritual condition of young men to a major metropolitan institution with a secular mission to better the quality of life for all. The Y commissioned The Winthrop Group to help commemorate the Y’s 150th anniversary. The resulting book, Celebrating 150 Years: The YMCA of Greater Boston, explored three recurring themes in the Y’s long history that form the foundation for future success: the Y’s relationship with its community, the city of Boston, and the extent to which it has depended on, and benefited from, the time and money of Bostonians in order to do its good work the Y’s remarkable expansion, from 600 to over 60,000 members, and its pioneering embrace of multiculturalism long before the term was invented. the Y’s extraordinary adaptability over time, consistently updating programs, and developing new ones, to meet the changing needs of the community.