Our Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
100 Years on the First Coast
The YMCA has been serving Americans for nearly 160 years, and here on the First Coast, records show the YMCA was started prior to 1908. At that time, the YMCA was located in downtown Jacksonville on the corner of Laura and Duval Streets. We now have 14 membership facilities, one resident camp, one charter elementary school, 40 school-based child care sites, two facilities for people with developmental disabilities and two youth development campuses. Though we’ve grown and evolved, one thing has remained constant: our mission. It is our reason for being and a driving force behind our cause for strengthening community.
Advancing Our Cause
It is an exciting time for us at the First Coast Y. Several months ago, we engaged volunteers, staff and key community stakeholders both at the association and the branch-level in a strategic planning process. The results led to a clarified vision centered on three strategic priorities that align with our brand: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.