Founded in 1883, YMCAs collectively make up the largest nonprofit community service organization in America. YMCAs are at the heart of community life in cities, neighborhoods and towns across the nation, working to meet the health and social service needs of 16.9 million men, women and children.With programming based on the four core values of Caring, Honesty, Responsibility, and Respect, YMCAs help people of all ages, faiths, ethnicities, incomes, sexual orientations and abilities develop the skills and tools they need to thrive. Longtime leaders in community-based health and fitness and aquatics, YMCAs teach kids to swim, offer exercise classes for people with disabilities and lead adult fitness classes. They also offer hundreds of other programs in response to community needs, including camping, child care (the YMCA movement is the nation's largest not-for-profit child care provider), teen centers, environmental programs, youth sports, parent/child programs, job training, international exchanges and many more. No-one is turned away for inability to pay.Each local YMCA is guided by a volunteer board of directors and is an independent charitable nonprofit, qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code. A national YMCA office, called the YMCA of the USA, is located in Chicago and is charged with serving member associations. Member associations in turn are required by the national constitution to pay annual dues, to refrain from discrimination of any kind and to support the YMCA mission. All other decisions are local choices, including programs offered, staffing and style of operation.YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 30 million people. Some 230 YMCAs in the United States maintain more than 370 relationships with Ys in other countries, operating international programs and contributing to the YMCA world service. In its own way, every YMCA nurtures the healthy development of children and teens; strengthens families; and makes its community a healthier, safer, better place to live.