YWCA Princeton Today

Founded in 1922, the YWCA Princeton is a community-based women’s membership committed to the worldwide YWCA mission of empowering women and girls and eliminating racism. From its inception, the purpose of the YWCA has been to meet the ever-changing needs and interests of women and their families. It is a place where diversity works as a positive force to address social issues, to respond to crisis, and to foster change where needed. The YWCA dedicates itself to the growth and development of women, and generally enriches its community, creating leadership opportunities for its staff and volunteers. Strengthened by association, this diverse group shares a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, dignity, and the elimination of racism.

Members: Nearly 7,000 members of the YWCA Princeton, most living within the greater Princeton community, range in age from four months to more than 95 years. They reflect and celebrate the community's cultural diversity.

Staff: A paid staff of approximately 35 full-time, several part-time, and up to 200 hourly instructors and teachers is committed to integrating the mission and purpose into all programming.

Volunteers: A very active volunteer force, more than 400 strong, provides one-on-one programming assistance-e.g., reading to pre-K children, tutoring English as a Second Language (ESL) students-and helps with fundraising and "friend-raising" through special events. In addition, the Board of Directors is made up of more than 20 volunteer members who plan policies and long-term strategies for the organization through shared professional expertise.

Scholarships: Any participant can apply for a YWCA scholarship, which will subsidize from 25% to 75%, and for a membership subsidy of 50%. In fiscal year 2004-2005, the YWCA gave out more than $400,000 in scholarships. The YWCA funds 80% of this with grants and fundraisers (our Crafters Marketplace raises nearly $60,000 to continue our Bates Scholarship Fund) and 20% is funded by the State of New Jersey.

Programs: Children's programming includes pre- and after-schools, nursery school, day care, sports, and summer camps. Adults and children alike participate in arts and crafts, aquatics, fitness, dance, and martial arts. Special equipment and programs are available for members with disabilities. Workshops and adult education classes offer information and discussion on such topics as financial independence for women, books and writing, and more. An extensive English as a Second Language (ESL) program encourages participants to study and prepare for citizenship and careers. Members with breast cancer, and their families and friends, find support groups that supply them with many resources through the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). Sponsored by the YWCA Princeton, the Newcomers' Club of Princeton helps those new to the area make friends and learn about the community.

Programming for each group is guided by the YWCA mission, supporting and empowering participants. YWCA facilities offer professional instruction/care in a safe and welcoming environment. Members with physical disabilities feel comfortable while participating in fitness and aquatics programs tailored to their needs. Women living alone find companionship and friendship while participating in YWCA programs. Members with life crises find support groups that supply them with many resources. Over the years, thousands have found help in coping with divorce, children, addictive behaviors of self or family members, life-threatening illness, and many other of life's challenges.

Fee-Based Programs

Many programs, developed over the years to meet the needs of the community, are fee-based:

Non-Fee-Based Programs

Several programs reach out to distressed and less fortunate community members, and are funded through membership and program fees, plus grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies.

The Breast Cancer Resource Center is a non-profit program of the YWCA Princeton. Established in 1971 (as ENCORE), BCRC is dedicated to increasing breast cancer awareness in the community, and to providing information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

BCRC's outreach program aims to educate women and men about breast cancer by providing breast cancer awareness talks to community organizations, schools, corporations, churches, women's groups, etc.; by participating in local and regional health fairs; and by coordinating an annual educational seminar.

Current, reliable, easy-to-understand information on all aspects of breast cancer and survivorship is available through the BCRC lending library, website, newsletter, guest speaker series, and telephone helpline. Emotional and physical support is provided in the form of support groups (including groups for young women, for those with advanced breast cancer, and for caregivers), a peer support network, a wellness program, and a prosthesis & wig bank. Women and men diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, are provided with information and support through all phases of the disease.

BCRC programs and services touch the lives of more than 10,000 individuals each year. All services are provided free of charge, and special efforts are made to reach out to minority communities and the medically underserved. As a non-profit organization, BCRC relies on grants, private and corporate donations, and fundraising to meet its budget, and on volunteers to ensure the success of many of the programs and services.

The YWCA Princeton's ESL Literacy Initiative, which includes ESL for adults and the Child Care Center at Valley Road School, receives minimal to no funding from program participants. These programs were created to serve the specific needs of the growing immigrant communities in Princeton. From 1990 to 2000, the Hispanic/Latino population increased 64% in Princeton Borough and 72% in Mercer County, according to Census 2000. Literacy initiative programs are aimed specifically at closing the minority achievement gap. Grant-funded subsidies or scholarship assistance are imperative as 95% of the students in ESL literacy classes have household incomes under $25,000 per year and at least 50% of families served by the Child Care Center at Valley Road are living at or below the national poverty level. The YWCA is dedicated to making these programs accessible and relies on contributed income and grants to make its annual budget.

The Child Care Center at Valley Road School provides a pre-school and child care environment for language and social skill development, primarily to aid low-income African American and Latino populations who are not being served elsewhere. Many of the children do not speak English when they enroll, but all are kindergarten-ready when they "graduate." In 1995, the Center opened to six students. It had multi-year support from an anonymous donor, and collaborated with the Princeton Regional School System and other local organizations. Having celebrated its tenth anniversary in December of 2005, the Center now services 50 students, with several on the waiting list. More than 80% of the children receive scholarships.

To enable school success for the young children, staff members work with parents to cultivate a home environment that is safe and conducive to learning. In conjunction with the YWCA Family Literacy program, parents are taught how to be advocates for their children within school and health care settings. Women who need assistance gaining independence from domestic violence, addiction, etc. are steered toward organizations that can help them: Womanspace, Corner House, and state agencies. The YWCA also acts as liaison with agencies offering citizenship, legal aid, GED, and adult education programs.

English as a Second Language and Literacy Programs serve as an important, and often the only, lifeline for students to the greater Princeton community and to American culture. In one year, the ESL program serves more than 500 adult students with a faculty of 25 highly qualified teachers and a team of 40 dedicated volunteers. In 2005-06, students came from 37 countries on four continents, with the highest percentage from Latin America. Literacy classes provide English-language instruction for immigrant adults who have had limited education in their countries of origin. They integrate workplace English, family support, advocacy, and acculturation to the schools and community with an English language curriculum specifically designed for limited-literacy immigrants. These classes also provide the English literacy needed to become a U.S. citizen. 95% of the students who complete the course move onto the next level until they complete the citizenship class. Many of the students then return and volunteer to help others become citizens.