About The YMCA

Together, the nation's 2,617 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organization in America, working to meet the health and human service needs of 20.2 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States.

The YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for United States YMCAs, and exists to serve these YMCAs. The YMCA of the USA is not a facility, and it does not provide direct programs and services to the public. Each YMCA is separate and autonomous from the YMCA of the USA, and each YMCA makes its own decisions based on local community needs. The YMCA of the USA is based in Chicago, with satellite offices around the country.

Because Ys are driven by the communities they serve, each YMCA is different. Child care, teen leadership, and sports clubs for older adults may be offered in one community, while another town's YMCA provides swim lessons, Adventure Guides, and afterschool programming in local schools. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate.

Volunteers lead YMCAs and are central to our mission, ensuring that each Y meets the unique needs of its community. Collaboration is critical to YMCA efforts to develop and implement effective community-based solutions to the issues facing our society.

The YMCA movement stretches far beyond the United States. YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 45 million people. About 230 U.S. YMCAs maintain relationships with Ys in other countries. Building strong kids, strong families and strong communities is what the YMCA stands for—worldwide.

On a local level, the South Shore YMCA has been serving individuals since 1892, when a group of 12 volunteers decided to work together to improve the lives of people in our community. As you will see from our history, we continue to grow and evolve in order to best serve the ever-changing needs in our community.

Today, the South Shore YMCA is comprised of branches in Quincy and Hanover, and an overnight camp in Sandwich. We also manage the Germantown Neighborhood Center in Quincy.