Letter from the President
of the Akron Area YMCA

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Akron Area YMCA web site! We hope that you will visit us often for information and education regarding one of the premier youth- and family-serving organizations in the region. While our Christian, faith-based heritage remains at the heart of what we do, the YMCA’s doors are open to people of all faiths or none. Our hope is that we are a safe harbor, a place where people can engage with the good in our community.

The YMCA of the USA celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2001, and the Akron Area YMCA has been serving this community for almost as long, having been started in the late 1800s! In the early 1900’s, the Downtown Akron YMCA and Camp Y-Noah were established. The latter part of that century witnessed tremendous growth of the YMCA throughout the three county area, including significant commitments to teens and young children. No programs exemplify this commitment better than the YMCA Phoenix Programs for at-risk youth and YMCA Childcare.

This new century was introduced appropriately by the groundbreaking collaboration of the new YMCA in Green, Ohio, which opened in August 2000. This state of the art health and wellness campus, built in partnership with Summa Health System, takes us in new directions. With over 1000 volunteers and 500 staff members we are leading the way in services for children and families.

The YMCA is a vital community life resource. We invite you to join in our quest to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities through the work of the YMCA.

Sincerely yours,

Douglas R. Kohl
President/CEO