newswire june 19, 2009
news from ywca national

YWCAs to Promote United We Serve Program

YWCAs across the country will participate in President Obama‘s United We Serve program that encourages Americans to volunteer and improve their communities during June 22 – Sept.11. Go here to view his video announcement.

For YWCAs, United We Serve creates opportunities to publicize their impressive array of community services, increase the volunteer pool to support key programs, get needed projects completed, and expand local financial support. Please visit www.serve.gov to post/find YWCA volunteer opportunities, download toolkits that describe suggested activities and post a link to www.serve.gov on your web site’s homepage.

YWCA CEO Lorraine Cole, PhD attended a recent White House briefing about this initiative, after which First Lady Michelle Obama told her that “YWCA certainly has the capacity” to be a focal point for volunteer service in communities across the country. Let’s show the White House that YWCA, indeed, “has the capacity”. Many thanks!

National HIV Testing Day – June 27

YWCAs will observe National HIV Testing Day on June 27 with a variety of community outreach and educational events. The YWCA national online HIV and AIDS Resource Center contains downloadable files of our HIV Testing posters, as well as ideas about how local associations can observe the day. Please download the posters and post a link to National HIV Testing Day on your web site’s homepage.

The YWCA national office is also branding these ads for YWCAs in Annapolis, Baltimore, Houston, Miami, and Washington, DC, and placing them in newspapers in their communities, which have high HIV infection rates among young African American women.

No. 1 Ladies Contest Nets YWCA Winners

HBO and the Botswana Tourism Board have awarded five all-expense paid trips for two to Botswana to the winners of the No. 1 Ladies online contest that identified inspiring and courageous women leaders (go here to read about the winning nominees). Among the winners are Julie Franklin, a volunteer with YWCA Greenville, and Sally Munger and Gail Schoenfelder, volunteers with YWCA Duluth, who will share a prize. Congratulations to all!

HBO's Alzheimer’s Project

As part of our on-going partnership with HBO, each local YWCA received a complimentary binder containing four DVDs and discussion guides for The Alzheimer’s Project series, which recently aired on HBO to rave reviews. Since Alzheimer’s Disease disproportionately affects women – both as victims and caregivers – and African Americans, this topic fits our YWCA mandate to eliminate health disparities based on race and gender. Local associations can use these DVDs for community education activities all year long. If you would like to receive a copy of this binder, please contact nloving@ywca.org.

YWCA Advocacy: Legislative Alerts and Updates   

• Support CEDAW Ratification
• Tell Your Representative to Support the Fast Track To College Act
• Help Stop Violence Against Women
• Tell Congress to Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act
• Tell the Senate to Pass Hate Crimes Legislation

Return to top

13 Market Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950 | Phone: 978-465-9922 | Fax: 978-465-1076