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News and Events YWCA of Western New York Congratulates our Class of 2010!! 100% of seniors in YWCA JOBS Program graduate from High School, All students pursuing higher education or secured employment, July 16, 2010. The YWCA of Western New York, Inc. (YWCA) is proud to congratulate our high school seniors in the youth program. 100% of our seniors will be entering the world of higher education and the workforce to pursue careers in the fields of healthcare, engineering, human services, medicine and technology, and cosmetology. Our students will be attending colleges and universities of SUNY- Fredonia, Alfred University, Niagara Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Continental School of Beauty, and People’s Inc. Many of our bright students receive academic scholarships to assist them with their college education. The teens in YWCA programs have a significantly higher graduation rate than similar teens not participating. The following students will be attending college, university, trade school, or employment in the Fall: “The young people in our program have a lot of potential but not always a place where they can be nurtured and realize their potential. Sometimes it is as simple as showing a teen how to shake hands and look you in the eye. Sometimes it is complex like teaching conflict resolution or coaching them thru a math test. Many of us take for granted what our family taught us as kids. Not everyone has that foundation in their life. I look forward to hearing about the great things these kids will do in the future”, says Deborah Lynn Williams, CEO “My experience with the YWCA’s JOBS program has made me a stronger person. I no longer find it hard to communicate with people and gain confidence. I will take the lessons that I learned here with me throughout my entire life. Through the good and bad, we still were a family” said Quincy Washington JOBS program graduate.
YWCA of Western New York’s Girls Inc. Presents Fun in the Sun!! June 15, 2010. The YWCA of Western New York, Inc. is offering our first Annual Gir There will be a total of six sessions and each session will include various activities and educational field trips that are associated with each activity. Deadline for registration will be July 2, 2010. Applications are available at both locations or can be downloaded here (2010 Registration Form If you have any questions contact Ms. Osa at (716) 332-3633 ext. 302 for the JFK site and Teresa Glanowski (716) 852-6120 ext.123 for the School House Commons site.
YWCA of WNY To Hold Yard Sale June 19, 2010--Seeks Donations May 24, 2010. The YWCA of Western New York, Inc. (YWCA) is seeking donations for a rummage sale to be held on June 19. The YWCA is seeking donations from now until June 15 of good quality household items, furniture, appliances, decorative pieces and similar items to sell at our sale. All items in good condition are welcomed. Donations are tax deductible. "Firm Handshakes and Comfortable Shoes" to be held June 10, 2010
Guest speakers include Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, Buffalo Councilmember Bonnie Russell, and Judge Barbara Howe. The event cost is $20 and includes a light dinner. YWCA of WNY to hold Chocolate and Wine Tasting May 6, 2010
Cost: $25 per person Where: ChocoLogo; 141 Broadway; Buffalo, NY 14203 RSVP online through this invitation, and please send your check to: YWCA of WNY partners with Organizations, Women Leaders-Calls on County Executive Collins to Restore Daycare Subsidy Funding  3/24/10. Today the YWCA of WNY, the WNY Women’s Bar Association, the WNY Women’s Fund, the Everywoman Opportunity Center, Inc., the League of Women Voters and over 250 individual women leaders announced the signing of a Women Leaders’ Statement. Partner organizations also include VOICE-Buffalo, CSEA, V.O.I.C.E., the Family Child Care Network of WNY, the Coalition for Economic Justice, the Partnership for Public Good, and Peace of the City.
While the County Executive touts a 44 million dollar surplus, his decision to elimin Action for Mental Health Co-Locates Programs with YWCA of WNY 3/10/10– Action for Mental Health (AMH), an agency that seeks to empower mental health consumers and improve the quality and delivery of mental health services in Erie County, has moved offices and services to co-locate with YWCA of WNY, located at 1005 Grant Street. The co-location will benefit both agencies through cost savings and enhanced programming. “Moving Action for Mental Health to the YWCA of WNY has both a fiscal and functional benefit” said Bart Blum, executive director of AMH. Deborah Lynn Williams, executive director of the YWCA, added, “Having AMH added to our location allows us to continue our efforts at making this building a community anchor as opposed to just a residence.” “In response to the harsh economic climate and dwindling resources, not for profit agencies are seeking new ways to better meet the rising needs in our community while decreasing expenses,” explains Michael Weiner, president of UWBEC. “United Way is taking the initiative to help local agencies by facilitating and funding these successful cost saving alliances.” For more information on AMH please visit www.actionformentalhealth.com or call 871-0581.
YWCA of WNY Hires Teresa Glanowski as Managing Director
“Hiring a Managing Director will enable our organization to build capacity and to increase cohesiveness across all of our program areas. Teresa brings a variety of experiences to the job and I am confident that she will play a key role in bringing the organization forward in these difficult times ,” said Deborah Lynn Williams, CEO, YWCA of Western New York. Glanowski’s previous experiences include serving as Communications Specialist at 1199 SEIU-United Healthcare Workers East, Director of Communications and Special Projects for Assemblymember Sam Hoyt, and Membership Specialist at the Girl Scouts of Western New York.
Read article in The Buffalo News, February 09, 2010 YWCA of WNY, Voice-Buffalo Congregations, Day Care Providers, and parents call on the County Executive to extend Day Care Subsidies 1/27/10. VOICE-Buffalo, a faith-based organization, along with YWCA of WNY which brings together members of the community to empower women, families, and individuals in order to attain a common vision for all people -- will come together to lift up the issue of the child care subsidies from the non-profit, small business perspective. In December 2009 Parents and Child Care programs received letters stating that their Day Care subsidy would be cut. The cut in subsidies is not an economically feasible outcome in an already strapped economy. This penalizes the working poor, those individuals who go to work every day, but barely make enough to make ends meet. Working parents should not be penalized for working. Father Paul Bossi, VOICE-Buffalo said, “As people of faith we believe that the working poor should be encouraged to work. We believe in pathways out of poverty. Today we are praying that the County Executive enact the resolution as passed by the County Legislature and extend this deadline 90 days.” Deborah Lynn Williams, CEO of YWCA of Western New York, Inc. said, “The very last thing we want to do is to create a situation where a family on the edge makes the choice to go back to full public assistance because the child care subsidy was reduced to a point that they can no longer afford to work. We must support working families in their quest to improve their lives and become fully self sufficient.” “As the data shows in Pathways to Progress affordable, high quality day care is the key to promoting economically secure families. There are over 17,000 single mothers raising children living in poverty in our community. Without childcare assistance they will be unable to continue to support their families,” said WNY Women’s Fund Executive Director, Bridgid Doherty. The press conference will be held at the YWCA of WNY Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. YWCA of WNY house damaged by those in search of scrap metal for illegal sale 12/4/09. The YWCA of Western New York, Inc. (YWCA) reports that a house used for transitional housing for homeless women and their children, many victims of domestic violence, has been significantly damaged due to theft of metal parts for sale on the illegal scrap metal market. View story on Channel 4 WIVB.com. Deborah Lynn Williams, CEO of the YWCA of Western New York, Inc., said, “It is clear from what was taken that the goal was to get as much scrap metal as possible for sale. Nothing that wasn’t metal was taken. All the associated water damage from having the pipes removed in the basement is there.” Items taken include: copper pipes, water meter, down spouts and gutters, metal chimney pot, aluminum facing on the windows and along the roof, all the aluminum strips that are on the stairs and other items. “Scrap dealers should not be buying this stuff. If some guys walk into the yard with arms full of gutters, aluminum strips from floors and water meters where do they think that came from? These businesses know very well that is was stolen in the hours before. They facilitate this by creating a market for stolen property. There is no question about it”, said Williams. “The region already has too few transitional housing units and now we have to take two more off line just prior to the holidays when we hoped to be able to have homes for two families currently in homeless shelters”, Williams added. The YWCA is unsure yet the cost of the damage but it will be significant considering the water damage and replacement costs for all the items that were stolen. At a time when donations are already down due to the poor economy, this loss couldn’t come at a worse time for the organization or the people they serve. YWCA is accepting donations from the public. Call 716.852.6120 ext 122 or visit our donation page to make an online donation. Donations can be sent to 1005 Grant St, Buffalo NY 14207. December 8, 2009. The incident a the YWCA of WNY has inspired Senator Charles E. Shumer's plans to establish harsher penalty for thieves. Read more. 12/9/09. Incident inspires generous donation by Metalico, Buffalo.
12/1/09– YWCA of WNY, housed at 1005 Grant Street, has moved some offices and teen services to co-locate with Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. (CAO) JFK Center, located at 114 Hickory Street. “Moving the Education and Leadership Development of the YWCA to the JFK community center managed by the CAO has both a fiscal and functional benefit” said Deborah Lynn Williams, executive director of YWCA of WNY. L. Nathan Hare, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAO agrees, “The structured programming of the YWCA complements the current activities offered at the CAO JFK Center, making this collaboration between the CAO of Erie County, Inc. and the YWCA of WNY promising for community teens.” The Fund for Alliances, supported by United Way of Buffalo & Erie County donations and distributed through its Not For Profit Resource Center, supported the co-location of offices and services. The financial support provided, $11,817, will be used for legal expenses and other necessary expenditures. YWCA of WNY, PEACE CORPS, Buffalo Immigrant & Refugee Empowerment Coalition (BIREC) Announce Community Thanksgiving Dinner. November 6, 2009. On Sunday November 22, 2009 from 3:30-6:00 p.m., a Thanksgiving Dinner and Award Reception will take place at the YWCA of WNY, 1005 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY. Recent immigrants and their families will join YWCA, Peace Corps, and community friends and neighbors for a mix of traditional Thanksgiving and ethnic foods. BIREC will give awards to members of the community who have helped recent immigrants.
November 4, 2009. Deborah Lynn Williams, Executive Director of the YWCA of WNY, is featured in this week's ArtVoice. Read 5 Questions with . . .Deborah Lynn Williams: YWCA Director.
October 22, 2009. The YWCA of Western New York, Inc. will offer Growing Together®, a program for girls between 9 to 11 years of age and their parents or guardians to facilitate communication about sexuality and relationships. Deborah Lynn Williams, CEO, said, ”Part of empowering women and girls to lead healthy and successful lives is teaching them the foundation of how to respect their bodies, make healthy sexual choices, and choose to have healthy and affirming relationships. Starting with honest communication with the parents and the girls is what this course is about." “YWCA hopes this program will be a success and that we can broaden the reach and offer it throughout the community in community centers or other venues that have the space and the need,” said Alex Wright, director of the youth education programs. Growing Together® is an educational program designed by Girls, Inc. YWCA of Western New York, Inc. is a licensee of Girls Inc., a national organization whose overall mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. |
ate more than 1100 children from day care subsidies for the working poor left hundreds of families facing the prospect of moving from work to welfare. The affected children have lost three nutritious meals a day, plus a dependable, caring environment which taught good socialization skills. Prominent studies show that funding early child care is a top investment with a return of nearly $2 in new spending in New York businesses for every $1 provided.
