As we celebrate the YMCA’s 140th year in the Inland Northwest, we thought it would be a fun opportunity to look back on some of the highlights of our first 14 decades.
Speaking of celebrations, the YMCA of the Inland Northwest holds a special place in the celebration of a beloved holiday. The very first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane at the YMCA in 1910. Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the idea after her mother passed away when she was only 16. Raised by her single father, she felt it was important to acknowledge the role fathers played in the development of children. From humble beginnings at the Y in downtown Spokane, the idea of Father’s Day quickly took off and was proclaimed a national observance by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924.
While we continue to honor and celebrate our role in the creation of Father’s Day, today the Y serves a place where we celebrate all kinds of occasions. From children’s birthday parties to the graduation of the participants in our Pathways to Wellness classes, we’re always celebrating special events at the Y. Recently you might have been fortunate enough to visit while we were hosting our Welcome Week celebration where the Y partners with non-profits who help refugees and recent immigrants to provide a safe place for these families. Thanks to a group of generous donors, the Y provides free, 3-month “Welcome Here” memberships so these new arrivals can begin to build a community in their new home. If you’d like to support this or any of the Y’s many programs that serve our community, please make a gift to our 140th Anniversary Campaign today!
