When the first YMCA was established in 1844 in London, England, its mission was to promote positive Christian values and healthy behaviors and activities. Today, the YMCA movement has spread to 124 countries around the world, supporting and influencing the lives of 21 million men, women and children of all backgrounds. Our local YMCA association has been serving Gaston County and the surrounding areas since the late 1880's. The Gaston County Family YMCA has upheld the remaining constant of the Christian Mission of the YMCA and the outstanding leadership provided by countless volunteers and staff. Together the Gaston County Family YMCA has evolved to ensure area youth and families have the opportunity to experience the YMCA mission which is “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.”
YMCA Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
YMCA History in Gaston County
William P. Fisk first organized meetings of what would become the Gaston County Family YMCA in the late 1880s at the corner of Marietta and Main St. as a place for men to gather to have bible studies, study sessions, and meetings. The location would later serve as the first library in Gastonia.
The desire for youth and family programs in the community was revived and the YMCA sprung up again in the mid 1950s. The city of Gastonia donated a large piece of land at the corner of Franklin Blvd. and Trenton St. to the YMCA and after a capital funds drive, enough money was raised for a full-facility YMCA. J.D. Hicks was the first General Secretary of the Gaston County Y when it was incorporated in 1956, where he remained until the early 1980s before Bob Neely succeeded him until 1989. Jim Mercer held the position for three years and Phil Morgan became the fourth Executive Director in the fall of 1992 followed by Tony Sigmon in 2006. Sharon Padgett became the sixth CEO on April 1, 2019.
After adding a second gymnasium and racquetball courts to the original facility in 1975 and a small pool and two additional racquetball courts in 1985, the Y continued to grow in the area. The association’s second branch, the East Gaston Family YMCA, was founded in 1992 on the campus of Sacred Heart. Due to rapid growth, a capital campaign began to build what became the Robert Lee Stowe, Jr. Family YMCA in 2000, where they relocated to continue serving the Belmont/Mt. Holly community. The Cherryville branch followed in November 2003, originally opening on Main Street in Downtown Cherryville. After 19 years, it moved to a newly renovated space on N Mountain Road in 2022, featuring over 5,700 square feet of wellness, group exercise, and youth programming space. The South Gaston Family YMCA opened in January 2004, becoming the association’s fourth branch. Our fifth location, the William J. Pharr Family YMCA, opened in 2008 in McAdenville, better known as ChristmasTown USA. In 2016, construction began on a new YMCA on Robinwood Road. This facility opened in December 2017 as the Warlick Family YMCA, leading to the closure of both the Central YMCA and South Gaston Family YMCA.
The William J. Pharr Family YMCA has been a cornerstone of the McAdenville community since its opening in 2008. for 17 years, the branch has proudly hosted Afterschool and Summer Camp programs, serving countless local families. Pharr also became home to our highly successful competitive gymnastics program, along with youth sports leagues, popular group exercise classes, and a fitness floor for members. The Y was an integral part of beloved local traditions, participating in events such as the Christmastown 5K, Yule Log Celebration, and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies. During the Christmas season, the Pharr YMCA became a gathering place for both residents and visitors to ChristmasTown USA.
Despite its recent closure on December 23, 2024, the Pharr facility will continue to serve the community by offering rental space, gymnastics, and Afterschool programs through May 2025. The decision to close was part of a comprehensive plan to enhance and consolidate indoor programming into the soon-to-be renovated and expanded Stowe Family YMCA and the state-of-the-art Warlick Family YMCA. Outdoor programming opportunities will continue in McAdenville.
Due to explosive growth in Eastern Gaston County, the Stowe Family YMCA launched a Capital Campaign to renovate and expand the branch. This project, which began in 2019 but was paused during the pandemic, officially resumed in 2023. The campaign supports the creation of over 15,000 square feet of new space and the renovation of 36,000 square feet of existing space. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, 2024, with completion expected in July of 2025.
What We Stand For
The Y is a worldwide movement of more than 45 million members in over 10,000 neighborhoods across our nation who strive to achieve a “healthy spirit, mind and body” through cooperation and community strengthening programs. We work every day within our community to ensure everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive through our youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programs.