THE SHASTA FAMILY YMCA
In 1930, a group of dedicated community members, who believed in the importance of offering opportunities for youth and families, brought the spirit and philosophy of the YMCA to Shasta County. These community members organized local club groups for high school boys and girls with the help of a traveling secretary out of Sacramento.
In 1945, W.D. Simmons led a Redding area committee with a goal of bringing a YMCA permanently to the area. Thanks to the committee’s work, a YMCA, initially called the Mountain District YMCA, was chartered on July 17, 1946.
Under the direction of Dr. Melvin L. Gumm, the Mountain District YMCA's Board, which met at the Redding Hotel, continued to grow programs and membership by utilizing schools, churches, and homes. The Mountain District YMCA was re-chartered as the Shasta County YMCA on March 8, 1952. Willard Eaton was selected as the Shasta County YMCA’s first Executive Director, serving until 1958, when his wife Dorothy Eaton stepped in as Executive Director for one year. In 1953, Dorothy founded Camp McCumber, a week-long residential camp for youth. Camp McCumber remains one of the Shasta Family YMCA's most popular programs and a lasting tribute to Dorothy's contributions.
From 1973 to 1998, the Shasta County YMCA, doing business as the Shasta Family YMCA, expanded its program outreach beyond central Redding to serve the growing metropolitan area. Recognizing the need for a central, permanent location, the Board launched a capital development campaign with a goal of $900,000. Between 1979 and 1980, $925,000 was raised, enabling the Y to secure a permanent home.
In 1984, the Y purchased the Diamond International building and property for $502,000, including four acres of land and 19,000 square feet of building space. In December 1984, the Y moved into its new home at the corner of Eureka Way and Court Street, led by Dr. Gilbert Collyer and a group of 25 men known as "The Y’s Men," who transformed the former lumberyard into a welcoming community space.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the Y expanded afterschool programming, serving as many as 700 children per week across 11 sites. Facility expansions included a double gymnasium, health fitness complex, staff offices, an outdoor heated pool (1996), pool locker and shower facility (1997), west side expansion with cardio equipment and wood studio floor (1998), and a soccer field, playground, and running course (1999). In 2002, a $1 million grant from the California Department of Juvenile Justice funded a youth conference center, recreation gym, and stage, with further improvements to the lobby, child watch, member services area, and weight room completed in 2004.
In 2005, the Shasta Family YMCA committed to Y-USA’s National Activate America Movement and partnered with Healthy Shasta to combat local obesity, extending its mission to serve the health and well-being of all community members.
Since 2005, the Y expanded its services and facilities to better serve children, teens, adults, and seniors across Shasta County. We launched new youth and teen programs, after-school care, summer camps, and aquatics programs, including swim lessons for all ages and abilities, water safety education, and fitness classes for adults. Our commitment to accessibility remained a cornerstone, with financial assistance and community partnerships ensuring that families of all income levels could participate.
In 2016, our excellence in aquatics programming was honored by Aquatics International, highlighting our dedication to outreach, education, and inclusive opportunities.
In 2020, the McConnell Foundation’s donation of a new 24,000-square-foot facility adjacent to our main campus allowed us to expand our offerings even further, creating more space for fitness, youth programs, and community events.
Over the decades, the Y has grown from 800 members at the Court Street location to a record high of more than 9,000 members today, and countless others participate in programs that make a real difference in the community.
80 Years of Community Impact
For 80 years, the Shasta Family YMCA has been a place where Redding comes together—where kids can grow, families can stay healthy, and adults of all ages can connect and thrive.
The Y offers something for everyone. Fitness enthusiasts enjoy six group exercise studios and three pools for activities from swim lessons to aquatic therapy. Indoor pickleball courts provide a fun, social way to stay active, while the Y Club serves over 125 meals daily to teens, offering a safe space to learn and grow. Seniors and older adults can join book clubs, grief support groups, or trauma recovery programs through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, helping them stay healthy, connected, and supported.
As part of its 80th-anniversary celebration, the YMCA has launched a $3.8 million capital campaign to enhance and expand its services. A key focus is renovating the building donated by The McConnell Foundation in 2020. This upgraded space will allow the Y to expand Y Club, food programs, open a new Montessori preschool, and launch the Shasta Stride program for adults with disabilities.
The campaign also includes constructing a new outdoor multi-sport court for pickleball, basketball, futsal, and more, providing even more ways for members to stay active. Funds will also update the pool house and locker rooms, ensuring safer and more modern facilities for everyone.
This campaign is about more than just facilities—it’s about strengthening the Y’s ability to serve the whole community. From teens receiving healthy meals after school, to seniors staying connected, to adults with disabilities finding new opportunities, the YMCA is a place where everyone belongs.
As the Shasta Family YMCA celebrates 80 years, it honors its past while looking toward the future—continuing to grow, innovate, and make Shasta County a stronger, healthier, and more connected community for all.
Working Together For a Better Future.