YMCA adds 15 more stories to '175 Stories for 175 Years' series
The latest installment continues an anniversary project that has featured McPherson YMCA participants
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Sign up freeThe Greater Wichita YMCA highlighted 15 member and staff stories in its latest “175 Stories for 175 Years” installment. The anniversary project shares personal accounts from across the association at ymcawichita.org/175stories.
The YMCA describes the project as introducing people “whose life stories have been shaped by the YMCA.” The collection includes experiences from across its branches, with McPherson represented in earlier installments.
The series marks the YMCA’s 175th anniversary in the United States. The first U.S. YMCA was founded in Boston on Dec. 29, 1851.
Branches began collecting stories in January, according to the association’s announcement cited in Citizen Journal’s Oct. 15 coverage. Organizers collected more than their original goal of 175 stories.
New sets are highlighted weekly through the end of 2026. The first installment featured McPherson members Seth Spainhour and Patrick Wahl; the association’s Week 2 announcement also identified Missy Curl with the McPherson YMCA.
Readers can find the anniversary stories at ymcawichita.org/175stories.
Citizen Journal previously reported that the McPherson Family YMCA became a full-facility branch of the Greater Wichita YMCA in July 2025. The McPherson location is now listed among the association’s branches.
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