The YWCA Is Dedicated to Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice

The YWCA Is Dedicated to Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice

WHO WE ARE

The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.Founded in 1858, the YWCA is one of the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organizations in the United States. For over 150 years, the YWCA has been at the forefront of most social movements—from voting rightstocivil rights, from affordable housingto pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform.A unique aspect of the YWCA is that we combine programming and advocacy in order to generate institutional change.Local YWCAs offer services and programs in threekey areas: Racial Justice and Civil Rights, Women’s Empowerment, and Women’s Health and Safety.

  • YWCAs serve more than 2 million women and familiesannually
  • There are more than 220local YWCA associations in over 1,200 locations in 47 states and the District of Columbia
  • The YWCA has over12,500staff members and 43,000volunteers
  • Worldwide, the YWCA serves 25 millionwomen and girls in120 countries
  • The YWCA is the 25th largest nonprofit organization in the country
  • Racial Justice and Civil Rights
  • 175—over 85 percent—of YWCAs offer distinct racial justice programs addressing personal, institutional, and/or structural racism
  • In2013, nearly300,000individualsparticipated in racial justice education and training programs to increase awareness, break down stereotypes, and increase access to the polls
  • Women’s Empowerment
  • 78 percent of women and children served by the YWCA have incomes below the federal poverty level or less, the equivalent of about $23,850 a year for a family of four, addressing the unique needs of those living in poverty and working toward outcomes to increase emotional and economic self-sufficiency
  • Every year, YWCA associations provide:
  • More than 150,000 womenwith economic empowerment programs
  • More than2,400 military veterans and their families with emergency housing, health care, career training and/or counseling
  • Women’s Health and Safety
  • The YWCA is one of the largest providers of domestic violence services in the U.S. One in four women in the U.S. will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime
  • Every year, YWCA associations provide:
  • Over 350,000 women with health and fitness programs, healthy pregnancy programs, mental health and drug abuse counseling, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and other support
  • Nearly 980,000(duplicate count*)women and children with domestic violence services, which include emergency shelter, crisis hotlines, educational training, counseling and support groups
  • Nearly 260,000(duplicate count**)women with sexual assault services, which includeemergency shelter, crisis hotlines, counseling and court assistance

*Counts all domestic violence and related services received.

** Counts all sexual assault and related services received.