Dear  YWCA Family,

It's the busiest time of year here at YWCA Greater Lafayette -- October! This month is marked by Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and our biggest fundraiser of the year, Power of the Purse.

Power of the Purse 

On October 1, 2020, YWCA Greater Lafayette launched its third annual Power of the Purse. We are only 6 days into the campaign and with your help we have raised more than $16,000 toward our total goal of $100,000 by October 30. 

This year, hitting our goal is more important than ever. Due to COVID-19, YWCA has had to cancel several in-person fundraising events. The Women's Cancer Program is facing a funding crunch due to the unavailability of approximately $130,000 in Susan G. Komen funding. Domestic violence calls and severity of incidents are on the rise. Our services haven't stopped. Staff continue to work through hurdle after hurdle to keep services going for clients and the community. We need your help to sustain this important and lifesaving work.

This year, PurseSetters formed teams to highlight different areas of YWCA's important mission – breast cancer awareness (pink), domestic violence awareness (purple) and YWCA's mission of eliminating racism and empowering women (persimmon.) Team Pink is currently leading the campaign with $6,840, followed by Team Persimmon with $4,980 and Team Purple at $4,285.

Week 1 Challenge

This week the PurseSetters are competing against their Pink, Persimmon and Purple teammates to see who can raise the most money between Monday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 11. The top two PurseSetters on each team will receive a bonus donation to their purse – $500 for winner, $250 for the runnerup. Follow the standings at http://support.ywca.org/PowerofthePurse2020 and give your favorite PurseSetter a boost by making a donation.

For more information about joining Power of the Purse as a PurseSetter, email communications@ywcalafayette.org.

Clay Bowl Giving Project + Power of the Purse

YWCA, in partnership with the Greater Lafayette Clay Guild, is thrilled to announce that the Clay Bowl Giving Project is joining Power of the Purse for 2020!

The Clay Bowl Giving Project is a celebration of the arts that honors survivors of domestic violence and supports the important work being done through YWCA's Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention Program.

Greater Lafayette Clay Guild artists donate almost 1,000 handmade, glazed clay bowls that are distributed along with lunch or dinner at the annual fundraiser, which is usually held in April. This year the event was pushed back because of COVID-19 restrictions.

We have come up with a safe, creative and fun way to continue the Clay Bowl tradition even through the pandemic is still preventing a packed YWCA gym. Claim your bowl by making a donation of $20 or more to The Greater Lafayette Clay Guild's Power of the Purse page. Bowls will be available for pick up on Thursday, October 29! Get more details here >>

YWCA in the News

•  WLFI News 18 - Domestic violence becoming more frequent and severe during pandemic
• WLFI News 18 - The pedestrian bridge, courthouse and Riehle Plaza light up pink for breast cancer awareness month
• WLFI News 18 - YWCA celebrates 100th Anniversary of 19th Amendment with outdoor exhibit

Light Up Riehle Plaza
On Friday, YWCA kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a celebration of survivors as we lit up Riehle Plaza in pink. You can view the pink lights along the John T. Myers pedestrian bridge will be lit with pink lights throughout October.

Clothesline Project
Last week the Clothesline Project went up in Ivy Hall on the campus of Ivy Tech Community College, honoring survivors and acting as a memorial for victims. Creating art on the shirts can also aid in the healing process for those who have experience DV. 

When there is no pandemic, YWCA unveils the Clothesline Project along with its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation. This year, we've taken the Proclamation online. View our 2020 Tippecanoe County Proclamation video here >>.

Votes for Women!
Thank you to everyone who came out for our outdoor exhibit of Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence, a poster exhibit by The Smithsonian. Special thanks to the Working Hoosiers Vote Coalition and Rubia Flower Market for their support.