Dear Friends,

As 2021 comes to a close, I think of the profound changes that YWCA Greenwich has experienced in the past 20 months. Some have come as a result of external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and some as a result of our intentional focus on elevating our mission as we enter the second century of serving the Greenwich community.

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly changed many of the ways in which we operated a multi-program community organization in service of our constituents. We innovated and transformed the YWCA in order to engage our members and our supporters. We have pivoted so many times that change is now regularly expected by our dedicated staff.

Concurrently, we have seen an alarming shift in our important work in domestic abuse services. Fielding over 7,000 calls to our 24/7 hotline in fiscal year 2021, we provided life-saving support to women, children and sometimes men who are victims of abuse and violence exacerbated by the pandemic. Through crisis intervention, safety planning, counseling, financial and legal guidance, as well as emergency shelter, YWCA Greenwich helped families recover from trauma and gain independence from their abusers.

YWCA Greenwich has also highlighted how people of color, women, and other marginalized populations have been negatively affected by not only COVID-19, but also other systems within our society. To respond to these emergent issues and more fully execute on our mission, we launched the YWCA Greenwich Center for Equity and Justice, and we have increased the quantity and quality of programming that we are offering through the Center. In fiscal year 2021, 954 people and a dozen local organizations participated in the racial and gender equity programs offered by YWCA Greenwich’s Center for Equity and Justice.

We will always to be the go-to community center focused on health and wellness; early childhood education and childcare; and top-notch aquatics, gymnastics, fitness, and educational offerings for our members. YWCA Greenwich is also a community leader and innovator, dedicated to our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Thank you for joining us in our efforts serve, uplift, and change lives in our community.

Sincerely,