YWCA Greater Lafayette

Happy Holidays - we made it to December! This has been a tough year for everyone, and we hope you have been keeping warm and staying safe. As we take stock of everything we accomplished during the last 12 months, we are excited for what 2021 has in store! Thank you for standing with us every day of the year, and supporting our mission to empower women and eliminate racism.

We did it! With a set goal of $100K, and an internal goal reach of $125K, we are so happy to report that together we raised $135,600 to support Women’s Cancer Program, Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention Program, Y-Dance and other association needs! Your contributions will provide safe shelter, preventative healthcare, workforce development and a new beginning for hundreds of women and families in our community.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Ron & Cynthia Rossiter, Connie Deerman Eckard and Sally Watlington for donating a total of $25K to our weekly match challenges; our PurseSetters for their excellent commitment to supporting our movement; and our corporate sponsors Purdue Federal Credit Union and Old National Bank for raising the bar during this historic moment. The overwhelming generosity from leaders in our community has fortified the work we have done and continue to do in an impactful way. Thank you again for helping us meet the challenges of this moment so we can continue to provide the highest order of care with inclusion, integrity, compassion and excellence.

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette Awards YWCA with 50th Anniversary Grant

YWCA was recently honored as a recipient of The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette Board of Directors grant, commemorating the organization’s 50th anniversary of serving our community. The $10,000 grant, one of five awarded, will support YWCA’s Empowerment Services Initiatives. Funds will be used to improve lighting and provide furnishings for a modular classroom that will support Google STRIVE and other workforce development programs.

YWCA Greater Lafayette President & CEO Allison Beggs said The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette has been a long-time champion of YWCA’s important service to the community. “The generosity of The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette has allowed our organization to better serve our community,” Beggs said. “From capital grants to fund needed repairs, equipment and improvements to field of interest grants that support specific programs, not only YWCA, but other non-profits, as we work to build a better community. We honor and celebrate the CFGL on its 50th anniversary as a vital partner for the betterment of our entire community.”

YWCA Chief Program Officer Leah Giorgini has been appointed as one of 30 individuals statewide to serve on the new Indiana 211 Advisory Board. This team will advise Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Secretary Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H, through the continuing integration of IN211 as it becomes the newest division of FSSA.

Indiana 211 became part of FSSA, following the passage of legislation by the Indiana General Assembly as part of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s 2020 Next Level agenda. IN211 collaborated to launch the Be Well Crisis Helpline. “We have sought to bring a group of courageous, thoughtful, diverse and disruptive thinkers together to make IN211 the best human service resource referral system in the nation,” Sullivan said.

Also chosen to serve was United Way Greater Lafayette CEO Michael Budd. Congratulations Leah and Michael!

As we approach the holidays and new year, we are comforted, encouraged and humbled by the outpouring of support YWCA Greater Lafayette has received during the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year Americans gave $410.2 billion to charity, breaking all previous records. Even in divisive times our united effort remains strong in tending to the unmet human, educational, health, environmental and public needs of our community. Celebrate our shared values and promote a strong and vibrant charitable community by continuing to share what you can with others! A little bit goes a long way to provide safe shelter and legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence and their families; connect clients with free screenings for breast and cervical cancer, translation services and healthy lifestyles; and promote self-sufficiency, empowerment and leadership. Make an impact online or donate directly to our DVIPP Shelter through AmazonSmile. Our community needs us, and we need you - act now to transform someone's life!

YWCA Greater Lafayette launches STRIVE, a free workforce development program powered by a grant from Google.org and sponsored in part by Cargill! The priomary goal of STRIVE is to increase vocational opportunities for women and people of color by providing them with essential workforce and digital skills. Participants will define their career goals and gain the confidence to seek higher-paying jobs, negotiate higher wages, pursue continuing education or earn professional certification. Through the implementation of a holistic empowerment program, STRIVE team and facilitators will provide ongoing case management, coordinate classes to develop soft skills, assist in job coaching, interviewing, and employment searching. Virtual classes begin January 25, 2020!

YWCA Greater Lafayette's Main Campus will be closed December 24-January 3. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, January 4. If someone you know needs emergency shelter, please help them get to a safe space and call us at (765) 423-1118 or toll free at (888) 345-1118 to speak with an advocate. Our helpline is available 24/7. For Virtual Support Groups, please refer to the website for updated holiday scheduling.

Throughout this season, we wish you the warmth of memories from holidays past; connections with family and friends even if they cannot be in person amid the challenges of this unique season; and wonderful glimpses of joy, peace and hope as we move into a new and better year together. Happy Holidays!

The annual Stand Against Racism campaign will take place in April 2021. We invite you to join us to take action in bringing awareness to the myriad of racial justice issues that pose barriers to civic engagement especially for women and girls of color. Most importantly, we invite you to explore with us how to unite our voices to educate, advocate and promote racial justice. Our collective efforts to eliminate racism and empower women can create change, transform institutions and create a world that sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable. More details coming soon!