The Marshall Area YMCA began in the summer of 2000 with the formation of a volunteer board of directors under the name of Marshall Area Community Center, Inc. (MACC, Inc.). This group of dedicated individuals was charged with researching and developing a facility that could meet the community’s needs for space for special events, socialization and leisure services. This effort was originally made possible through a matching gift from The Schwan Food Company which pledged up to $5,000,000 in matching funds towards the construction of such a facility.

Over the next year these volunteers worked hard in several capacities: researching community needs, visiting successful community centers and YMCAs, fundraising, and designing a facility. Through this process the volunteers became aware of, and impressed with, the mission and operational success of YMCAs. More and more those volunteer visiting other facilities believed that a YMCA would best meet the needs of the Marshall area. On June 1, 2001 the Board of Directors voted to change the name of the organization to the Marshall Area YMCA.

Throughout this time the volunteers were working diligently to match the entire $5,000,000 gift from The Schwan Food Company. In June 2001 the community celebrated the success of the volunteers’ campaign with $5,000,000 in matching funds pledged from businesses, organizations and individual community members. This was the largest capital fundraising endeavor in Marshall’s history and is a testament to the altruism of our businesses and citizens.

Groundbreaking for the current facility was held in May, 2002; and on July 15, 2003 we opened your YMCA!

We now have over 5,600 members and served over 15,000 people in 2010. Ninety staff members and numerous volunteers work daily to fulfill our mission of instilling the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through programs and services that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.