YWCA Fashion Show

As many of you may know, this weekend, July 11^th, the Ruff Life is hosting a fashion which will be benefiting the YWCA, so what a great opportunity to share some facts about the YWCA and their importance in our community. Established in 1858, the YWCA is not only the largest, but the oldest multicultural women’s organization in the world. Their mission is to not only empower women, but to eliminate racism. The YWCA is important to our community, not only because they provide a safe haven for women and girls who come to them in times of crisis, but because the YWCA also advocates for women’s and civil rights in Congress. With over 25 million members spread over 106 countries, the YWCA certainly has the power and the means to reach out to women in many communities.

      The YWCA offers job training, counseling, child-care, health and fitness services. One thing is for certain, no matter what women come for, they leave with a set of new skills, and a stronger self.

       The YWCA is the only certified center to provide services and programs to victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. Their domestic violence services include: housing victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, which includes providing shelter, legal services, transportation, medical care and child care for up to two months. Currently, the YWCA is the center that provides shelter for battered women and children in Oklahoma County. They also offer transitional housing, crisis services, Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program (DVVAP), counseling and community groups, a children’s counseling program, and Prevention Education and Economic Empowerment Program (EEP).

            Sexual assault services include providing support for victims of sexual assault, hospital advocacy and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).  The YWCA has a 24 hour rape crisis hotline, and have hospital advocates that are on call 24 hours a day to provide emotional support, advocacy and counseling. These services are offered at hospitals, police stations, and in the legal system.

        The YWCA is so important because every year upwards of 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence at home, between 30%-60% of children in households with domestic abuse are directly abused, thus causing problems with youth as they grow up, causing them to be more likely to follow these patterns of abuse, be at a higher risk of death, and face more hurdles with succeeding in life and school. One of the reasons women in domestic abuse and sexual assault situations stay in relationships with their abuser is because they lack the financial independence and means to escape the situation. The YWCA offers help and support to these women and children by helping them get back on their feet through job training, counseling and support. Without the help of the YWCA and their services many women would be stuck in these less than ideal situations and continue to put not only themselves, but their children at risk.

            One question many people have is, ‘how can I help?” the YWCA accepts donations online, through several options: a one time gift, making a pledge to monthly donations, or making a gift in honor of someone special, all of these options are available online on their website. You can also mail your gift to their OKC location:

YWCA Oklahoma City
2460 NW 39th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

You can also donate stocks or other securities to the YWCA, or use planned giving to

Include the YWCA in your will as a beneficiary and more complex trust arrangements.

Donation information:

https://www.kintera.org/site/c.7oJELRPuFgJYG/b.8087319/k.2CD8/Donate_Now/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=7oJELRPuFgJYG&b=8087319&en=buJLK0MHJaKUIaOKL9KRK6MULuIYK2MQKjLULcOVInKZIdPXJyF

or contact Nicole Wright, Director of Development
405-948-1770 

To volunteer visit the YWCA volunteer page at: http://www.ywcaokc.org/site/c.7oJELRPuFgJYG/b.8087309/k.FABE/Volunteer.htm

To visit or use YWCA services, Oklahoma has 3 locations which are:

YWCA Enid                             

2460 NW 39th St 
Oklahoma City , OK 73112-8956
Phone:405 948-1770
Fax: 405-943-7177
URL: www.ywcaokc.org

YWCA Oklahoma City
525 S Quincy St 
Enid , OK 73701-5456
Phone:580 234-7581
Fax: 580-234-1284
URL: www.ywcaenid.com

YWCA Tulsa
1910 S Lewis Ave Ste 200 
Tulsa , OK 74104-5724
Phone:918 587-2100
Fax: 918-587-0277
URL: www.ywcatulsa.org

The Oklahoma 24 hour Domestic Violence Hotline is: 405-917-9922

The Oklahoma 24 hour Sexual Assault Hotline is: 405-943-7273

All information in this blog post was found on the YWCA OKC website: http://www.ywcaokc.org