VOLUNTEER INDUCTEES

WILLIAM S. SLOANE (1873-1922)

William Sloane was President of the National War Work Council, which was formed in 1917 and raised and managed hundreds of millions of dollars to support YMCA initiatives to serve American and Allied troops during World War I. During the war, he was one of the “dollar-a-year men,” who put aside their own personal gain and fortune to put their vast experience earned in the private sector to work at hugely expanding the outreach of the YMCA. The contributions of the YMCA during the war were amazingly extensive and impressive, involving the construction and operation of thousands of centers for service personnel, support for U.S. YMCAs serving the military, mobilizing well-known entertainers for service abroad, and literally hundreds of other programs and services that employed more than 25,000 YMCA workers. In 1930, Sloane House, a New York YMCA residence for servicemen, was opened in his honor.

GEORGE STUART (1816-1890)

George H. Stuart, an Irish immigrant who became a prominent businessman, met with George Williams in 1850; from that meeting came Stuart’s leadership in the American YMCA Movement. He founded the Philadelphia YMCA in 1854. Stuart advocated for a paid secretary, employing John Wanamaker and thus beginning the professionalization of the movement. Stuart’s ability to organize and fund-raise were put to their greatest test during the Civil War when, as Chairman of the United States Christian Commission (organized by YMCAs to recruit and support Union troops), he raised $6 million in support of the welfare of soldiers. The Commission provided religious supplies and preachers, but also staffed kitchens and medical facilities, provided transportation and free telegrams for troops. After the war, Stuart – a confidant of President Grant – was instrumental in the movement to reform the government’s treatment of Native Americans.

1861

Fifteen Northern YMCAs form “Christian Commission” for Civil War work.