Who We Are
The YWCA Western New York is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, helping families, and strengthening communities.
It Takes Courage
YWCA Western New York is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Our vision is a thriving community without divide.
Since YWCA WNY’s founding in 1870, we have been on the forefront of the most critical social movements. YWCA WNY does not back down from tough issues and our team is dedicated to forwarding our collective mission to eliminate racism and empower women.
YWCA WNY is active in advocacy efforts and awareness campaigns that advance women’s economic empowerment, advance a work and family agenda, and educate people about domestic violence and what we can do to end the cycle of violence.
Governed by an all-female Board of Directors, the YWCA WNY is headquartered at The School House Commons, 1005 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY. In 2016, YWCA WNY served over 3,500 individuals.
It Takes Commitment
Since 1870, YWCA WNY has responded to the needs of the community by providing high quality programs and services that promote racial justice and advance women’s empowerment. This commitment continues today through a continuum of comprehensive supports and services, focused specifically on individuals and families living with the inter-related issues associated with poverty and homelessness.
Children and Youth Services: YWCA WNY has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive programs that foster healthy development and nurture the potential of every child. Serving low-income children and their families, our comprehensive children and youth programs provide educational, social, emotional and wellness programs that promote school success and family involvement, reflect the cultural diversity of our participants, and facilitate connections between families and needed community services.
School House Commons Early Childhood and School Age Child Care Centers: located at School House Commons, 1005 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY we provide early childhood, afterschool and out-of-school time programming for children six weeks through 12 years of age.
After-school at Maryvale Union Free School District: located at Maryvale Intermediate and Middle Schools in Cheektowaga, this program provides academic and enrichment after-school programming to Kindergarten through 6th-grade students.
Lackawanna Middle School Extended School Day (ESD) Program: located at Lackawanna Middle School, ESD provides after-school academic and enrichment programming to 6th through 8th grade students.
Full Service Community Schools at Cleve Hill Elementary and Middle School in Cheektowaga: this program integrates academics, youth development, family support, health, and social services, as well as community development. FSCSs provide access to comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships.Full Service Community Schools at Cleve Hill Elementary and Middle School in Cheektowaga, this program integrates academics, youth development, family support, health, and social services, as well as community development. FSCSs provide access to comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships.
Children’s Centers in the Courts: located at both Erie County Family Court, 1 Niagara Plaza, Buffalo, NY and Buffalo City Court, 50 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY, the Children’s Centers provide a safe, nurturing, literacy-rich environment for children in the Court houses. The Centers facilitate connections between families and needed community services.
It Takes Compassion
School House Commons Services for Seniors: located at 1005 Grant Street Buffalo, NY 14207, School House Commons provides comprehensive case management services for low-income seniors. Featuring 64 independent living apartment units, School House Commons is funded under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 202 Housing of the Elderly.
It Takes YOU
Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for all.
YWCA MISSION
History ↘
Living, Working, Playing
The YWCA of Western New York was organized in 1870 to seek out and provide for the wants of the poor of the city and to furnish a boarding home for young girls and women. The YWCA of WNY and its members have gone though changes through the decades, and the organization was often ahead of its time. This slideshow illustrates some of our local history.
Courtesy of Western New York Heritage Press, the section below illustrates more of our history.
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Living at the YWCA
From its earliest years, the Women’s Christian Association (later renamed the Young Women’s Christian Association) embraced as one of its numerous commitments the provision of safe, temporary housing for young women who came to the city looking for work. In 1889, the organization constructed its first resident home at 10 Niagara Street on Niagara Square…
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180–190 Franklin Street: Then & Now
Millard Fillmore’s first address in Buffalo was 180 Franklin Street, where he lived with his wife Abigail. The Buffalo YWCA constructed its new building at 190 Franklin Street in 1952. It was three-story, 70,000 square feet, and included a swimming pool, gymnasium, weight room, locker rooms, a ballroom with a stage, commercial kitchen, offices, and classrooms…
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Buffalo YWCA Summers
Camp Forty Acres, located in southern Erie County along the shores of Lake Erie, was a summer camp operated by the YWCA from 1921 to 1971, at which time the property was sold and became part of Evangola State Park. Through the years, thousands of youngsters attended the camp, which started offering interracial weekends in 1928.
FAQs
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Some YWCA organizations do have fitness facilities. The YWCA of WNY does not have a gym.
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Despite the similar name, the YWCA and YMCA are independent organizations with distinct missions.
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The YWCA is an independent, non-religious organization. The name YWCA stems from roots in the Christian faith. Today, the YWCA embraces members from all faiths who are committed to creating opportunities for women's growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.
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YWCA stands for Young Women Christian Association. Just as in 1858 when the YWCA was first established, members of the YWCA stand for the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.
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Founded in the 1850’s, the YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural organization in the world. Currently, the YWCA represents approximately 2 million women, girls and their families in the United States and 25 million women worldwide. The YWCA has nearly 300 associations throughout the United States. YWCAs can be found in more than 100 other countries. Racial justice and women's economic empowerment are the hallmark programs of the YWCA.
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