Who We Are
The YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
The YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1885 as a member of the national YWCA, one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation. Located in Syracuse, New York, the YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
The YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. works to create an equitable community while providing a supportive environment for women and children to define their lives and thrive through programs and services dedicated to women's empowerment and youth development.
Nationally, the YWCA advocacy issues include pay equity and hate crime legislation, increased funding for Head Start and passing the Violence Against Women Act.
Locally, through our programs, we are changing lives and restoring hope for women, their families, and our community.
Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for all.
YWCA MISSION
Our Values
Courage
We have the collective strength to face the biggest challenges and work toward a more just and equitable society that benefits everyone.
Compassion
We believe that impacting lives begins with understanding individual needs. We listen, we learn and we respond.
Commitment
We are part of the oldest and largest multiracial women’s organization in the world. We have always been — and will always continue to be — leaders for racial justice and women’s empowerment.
Our Team
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Fanny Villarreal
Executive Director & CEO
Provides leadership and direction in collaboration with the Board of Directors.
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Wenona Timmons
Deputy Executive Director
Oversees the administrative and organizational work of the YWCA.
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Caitlyn Copfer
Chief Development Officer
Provides managerial leadership, program development and implementation for youth programs.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of women leaders using their passion, insights, and connections in the community, to create real impact for the YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc.
2023 – 2024 Officers
Lekia Hill, Chair
Adrianna Quiroga, Vice Chair
Rachel Kavney, Treasurer
Precious Gerald, Secretary
Directors
Julie Burgess
Mary Earl
Samantha Harmon
Shantel Henry
Brittney King
Tiffany Latino
Angela Martinez
Ingrid Paredes
Sarah Pelligrini
Nicole Wall
Holly Zahn
Annual Reports
The YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women, and we’re committed to accountability and transparency in everything we do. Below you will find resources that illuminate our financial position, outline how we allocate our resources, and showcase the impact of the valuable support from our donors and sponsors. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we welcome your support of our mission!
2022
FAQs
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No, the YWCA Women’s Residence Program is not a shelter and does not offer immediate assistance. However, we do provide safe, affordable transitional and permanent housing to single women and mothers whose lives have been impacted by domestic abuse.
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No, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) are completely independent organizations.
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While the YWCA primarily focuses on women's needs and issues, designs programs around those concerns, and is managed by women, it also values the participation of men in staff positions. This recognition stems from acknowledging the important role men play in both the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women. Furthermore, the YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. extends its support to boys and young men through initiatives such as the YWCA Youth Soccer programs, where the majority of participants are male.
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The YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. does not have fitness programs, although we do have YWCA Youth Soccer programs, both non-competitive and competitive, in addition to incorporating physical activities in our Girls Inc. at YWCA curriculum. Each YWCA looks at its own community to determine its particular program needs, in which some local associations do have fitness programs.
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The first YWCA was established in England in 1855, when two groups met to aid women: one group formed a Prayer Union to pray for women, and the other founded Christian homes for young women. The two groups merged in 1877 and took the name Young Women’s Christian Association. In 1884 the organization adopted a constitution. In the United States 35 women met in New York City and formed the first Ladies’ Christian Association to provide for the “temporal, moral, and religious welfare of young women who are dependent on their own exertions for support.” In 1866 in Boston another group of women met with similar aims, formed an organization, and wrote the constitution for the Young Women’s Christian Association. By 1900 hundreds of YWCAs were in existence in the United States. Our local association was founded in 1892.