YWCA’s 5th Anniversary Luncheon: In the Company of Women
Emphasizing that “girls are not the problem, they are the solution,” keynote speaker Sheryl WuDunn gave an eye-opening view of the real need to support education for young women and girls around the world on Friday afternoon at the 5th Anniversary Benefit Luncheon, In the Company of Women, supporting the YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester.
WuDunn, the first Asian American to win a Pulitzer Prize, is a world traveler, business executive, entrepreneur and best-selling author. She lives just up the road from the Hilton in Rye Brook where she made the presentation to over 500 people attending the event.
WuDunn’s experience in the global arena reflected similar issues confronting local women of every age who are helped daily by the YWCA through programs like GEMS (Girls Empowered through Meaningful Support) that provides at-risk girls with enrichment activities, academic assistance and mentoring to direct them on a path towards individual growth, self-confidence, and the pursuit of personal achievement, truly showing that when girls face problems and are helped they become strong members of society.
Other programs offered by YWCA include a children’s learning center; housing, food, clothing and employment counseling for women on the edge; breast cancer outreach; supervised visitation for children and their non-custodial parents; camp and after school programs; courthouse children’s centers; and recreation and fitness programs for adults including those for people with developmental disabilities.
Everything done by the YWCA focuses on its stand against racism and empowerment of women.
The YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester has a very local beginning. In 1929, the White Plains Woman’s Club formed a girls club and officially became the YWCA. Shortly afterwards in 1930, the YWCA rented two small houses on Church Street for five women in need of housing and the first safe, affordable housing in the White Plains area was established. That grew over the years to become the newly renovated residence providing supportive housing services to 200 women annually.
In 1966 the 80,000 square foot Activity Center on North Street, White Plains was completed.
Almost 85 years after its inception, YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester, under the direction of a strong board and CEO Maria Imperial, serves thousands of members and impacts major sectors of the community.
During the luncheon Marge and Bob Feder were acknowledged as Community Champions. New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins was given the Leader of Distinction honor, and Kenneth Theobalds, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Entergy Nuclear was acknowledged as the Corporate Champion.
Kaila Marie Letteri a Pace University student, Leah Huang from Mamaroneck High School, Stephanie Ann Rodriguez a Mercy College student, and Ciera Scriber from White Plains High School were noted as People to Watch.
To learn more about the YWCA visit ywcawpcw.org.
