YMCA has impact on history

The Cannon Memorial YMCA, the original Kannapolis branch, was chartered in 1908 as a division of Cannon Mills. The president and CEO of Cannon Mills underwrote all membership fees and expenses, giving the Cannon Memorial YMCA the largest YMCA membership base in the nation.
In the fall of 2003, the Cannon Memorial YMCA opened its second facility in Concord. The West Cabarrus YMCA is located in Afton Village, a full facility offering indoor pools, fitness center, group exercise, gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms, child watch, teen center, sports fields, indoor climbing wall and more.
In December 2006, the Harrisburg YMCA was opened, an express facility offering a fitness center, child watch, group exercise, youth fitness and summer day camp. All of our Cannon Memorial YMCAs share the heart of the mission of the YMCAs around the country.
Do you know that basketball was invented at the YMCA? In 1891, a YMCA physical education teacher named James Naismith invented basketball as an indoor, winter sport at the YMCA. Basketball is second only to soccer as the most popular sport in the world.
A few quick facts about the YMCA include:
• There are 2,663 YMCAs across the USA.
• More than 20.2 million people are served by YMCA programs.
• The YMCA has almost 600,000 volunteers.
• YMCAs are the nation’s largest provider of child care.
• Cannon Memorial YMCA will celebrate 100 years in November.
For more information about the YMCA, visit www.cannonymca.org. or call 704-939-9622.