On March 8, 2020 YWCA Greater Lafayette opened its doors to Persimmon Boutique, an empowerment boutique dedicated to outfitting women and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence with suitable attire for job interviews, court appearances and work wear. Nine days after its opening, COVID-19 temporarily forced the closure of in-person services.

Navigating new pandemic restrictions granted YWCA Greater Lafayette time to reassess how providing these services could be further aligned to make a larger impact matching the growing needs in our community.

The largest unemployed population in Tippecanoe County has been and continued to be our Black and African American communities. We met disparities in employment opportunities and skill development and rose to the challenge of creating programming from which all people could benefit.

Throughout 2020, YWCA continued to develop stronger support systems to the clients we served. Funding was secured from Google.org to initiate STRIVE, an enhanced workforce development initiative delivered digitally. And YWCA Greater Lafayette was awarded an affiliate charter as Dress for Success Greater Lafayette.

In 1 year, we turned a boutique into the full program Empowerment Services, focused on empowering and supporting individuals and their families through unduplicated services that foster long term self-sufficiency. Empowerment Services offers free opportunities designed to educate, assist and transform all people who are seeking to retain living wage employment and reach their full potential.

During the early months of the pandemic, more than 25 women were assisted with clothing and support.

In April, we deployed our annual Stand Against Racism Campaign calling for all communities to rally together for racial justice and equality for all, delivered entirely through virtual platforms. Just one month later, YWCA joined the world to mourn the death of George Floyd, and raised our voices in unity against racial disparities and injustices committed against all people of color.

Recognizing the immediate need for increased awareness and opportunity for underserved populations, YWCA refocused the goals of our programs through a racial justice lens. This included a shift in how we promote our services, increase our awareness and education, and uphold our principal mission of eliminating racism.

We plan to add a Senior Director of Racial Justice to our team in 2021, increase opportunities for women and people of color and continue to strengthen our call to action and change within our community.

Serving a six-county area, YWCA’s Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention program provided unduplicated services to survivors in Tippecanoe, Benton, Caroll, Clinton, Warren and White Counties.

DVIPP received 614 calls from community members experiencing abuse in March 2020 alone. Through rising numbers of domestic violence, YWCA’s focus on crisis intervention, emergency shelter, case management and support groups continued to meet the increased need for survivor support and services. Despite the pandemic, the DVIPP team and staff started working on a rotating schedule. Every three weeks, each team member would work a full 40-hour week in the shelter, directly with clients. This provided a better opportunity to connect with people when many families were isolated from the rest of the world.

YWCA’s Women’s Cancer Program serves 36 counties across central Indiana and is the state’s largest regional enroller for the Indiana State Department of Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP). In its 26 years, WCP has grown to include bilingual services, IN-WISEWOMAN health coaching and ongoing wellness care, and its dedicated staff works tirelessly to ensure that Hoosiers who need assistance accessing screening and diagnostic care for breast and cervical cancer can find the support they need to receive care and be empowered in their healthcare choices.

The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust extended funding opportunities and awarded YWCA an additional $24,958.40 after Susan G Komen defunded all grantees. After the technology upgrade, met program deliverables, completing tasks while remaining HIPAA compliant as all team members navigated the pandemic. To meet IDOH deliverables, virtual training was developed for BCCP contracted medical providers. The option was highly rated by medical providers and cost effective for the program and continues to be used across all BCCP regions in the state.

Y-Dance pivoted to online lessons, live and pre-recorded. Virtual teaching provided an outlet for students to move their bodies and keep their dance skills and technique sharp at home. 218 dancers enrolled, 10 lead teachers, 3 assistant teachers.

Mission

YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

This YWCA mission statement was adopted by the General Assembly in 2009.

Vision

YWCA Greater Lafayette will be the leading organization for women and their families, empowering them to meet their vital needs and succeed in life.

The YWCA Foundation of Greater Lafayette, Inc. has a demonstrated 51-year history of support for YWCA Greater Lafayette. The Foundation exists to receive donations, to hold and to invest funds in order to continue the legacy of YWCA, both now and into the future.

Named endowment funds are created with a donation of $10,000 (over three years). Current endowed funds support YWCA Greater Lafayette’s Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention Program (DVIPP), the Women’s Cancer Program, scholarships for disadvantaged youth, women’s empowerment programs and support funds for equipment, building maintenance and general operating needs.

Mary Keller Ade, MD
Robin & Randy Bellinger
Sue Ann Blake
Margie & Mike Bluestein
Patricia & W. Kelley Carr
Linda Cohen
Barbara Cook
Nola Gentry
Verne Freeman & Mary Gregory
Marcia Herr
Laura E. Hess
Kathleen Johnston
Grayce Lechtenberg
Ralph Morris
Alice Munger
Betty M. Nelson
Gladys Pacey
Jo-Ann Price
Lola Rankin
Mary A. Sadowski
Helen B. Schleman
Linda M. & Robert Sorensen
Sally Watlington
Maxine F. Wilson

Barbara Merrick Hawkins Charitable Trust

IMPACT

The YWCA Foundation was incorporated in 1969 and received its first gift. It purchased the property at 605 N. Sixth Street where the current YWCA now stands. Through judicious use of its resources, The YWCA Foundation ensures that as much of it as possible goes toward reducing violence, poverty and inequality.

For many, 2020 will forever be linked with trauma and hardship, but that will not be the year’s only legacy. The YWCA Foundation ensured that the Domestic Violence Shelter was able to provide 185 adults and 175 children with safe housing, meals and the resources an advocacy needed toward self-sufficiency.

Amid the growing number of clients served, one survivor with decades of abuse who was sleeping on floors and in her car was referred to the Domestic Violence Shelter. Within six days of arriving, she was safely relocated to permanent supportive housing, was provided with ongoing support and financial freedom.