Year in Review: 2024
Early in February, supporters gather at the YWCA for a celebration of all we accomplished together in the previous year. We share our annual “Gratitude Report” and recognize a few outstanding contributors.
Financials
REVENUE
Your support: 664,034
Grants & contracts: 913,084
Program service fees: 825,314
Investment income used: 126,154
Released from/used for donor restricted purpose: 49,924
Total: 2,578,510
EXPENSE
Women’s residence & family shelter: 209,489
Childcare & youth enrichment: 905,293
Domestic violence response & prevention: 621,457
Sexual assault response & prevention: 348,987
Marketing & development: 106,045
Community outreach: 53,003
Administration & support: 238,572
Total: 2,482,846
Unaudited Net: $95, 663
Message from the Executive Director: Together We Rise
By Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin
I’m so proud of my niece. After a long career in PR and marketing in D.C., L.A. and Walla Walla, she went back to school to become a teacher.
Now, she’s in her third year of teaching in rural Alaska, including two years in a one-room school in Platinum (pop. 61) on the Bering Sea. She can do it all—teacher, janitor, maintenance crew—whatever is needed.
Her students are of the Yup’ik peoples, while she and many other teachers are primarily not.
On our Sunday Zoom chats, she shares her students’ struggles and joys, the ever-present threat of freezing, and the state of Belle, her sourdough starter.
We often begin our calls with a check in on Belle. When Belle is rising, it seems, so are my niece and her students. When Belle is flat, things may be a bit stuck.
But Belle hangs in there, and with a little feeding and care, she rises to the challenge of another loaf of bread or batch of cookies.
A source of connection
Belle is more than a kitchen experiment. She’s a lesson in science and learning from your mistakes, a reward for school accomplishments, and most of all, a source of connection.
Many of the locals are poor, traumatized, watching their villages flood as oceans rise. They see their way of life dying and, thanks to memories of forced residential schooling, many don’t trust education as a way out.
My niece, trained in trauma-informed teaching, refuses to let her students be written off as “chronic below-average performers.”
She gathers them to build community through a book club. A talent show. An afterschool sourdough club.
A spirit of belonging
So much of the YWCA’s work is about that same spirit of belonging:
Helping people rejoin community after isolation and abuse.
Preparing young children to enter it as they learn and grow together.
Guiding girls on the verge of womanhood to recognize a healthy community.
Connecting kids in remote areas of our valley over the summer.
Making sure those who are often not seen or heard know they matter.
Hope guided our work in 2024. And what is hope if not community?
We don’t always know the exact path forward, but we do know this, and this is hope for sure: Together, we are stronger. Together, we are greater than the sum of all the parts. Together, we rise.
Kind of like the sourdough starter that builds community in rural Alaska. We’re doing it here too.
2024: A year of gratitude
Your Impact ↘
Mariposa Updated for ‘Gen Alpha’
IN 2024, Mariposa leaders entered Walla Walla fifth grade classrooms with a fully updated curriculum for this group of students who started school in 2019 and were in kindergarten when the pandemic hit in 2020.
Today’s fifth-graders are part of the first generation to spend their lives immersed in social media, with screens everywhere.
Changes in the use of technology in and out of school have had a major influence on these girls’ early learning experiences and continue to shape their worlds.
They have health and relationship challenges related to screen time, including loneliness, isolation, obesity, and cyber-bullying.
The YWCA is all about helping women and girls become leaders in their own lives, said Rebecca Patterson, Mariposa Coordinator, and we need to meet them where they are.
If we don’t include the online space where so much of their lives are happening, she said, we’re missing a big opportunity to help girls learn and grow.
LINC: Rebuilding Confidence, Power
Finding the strength to move forward after domestic violence can be overwhelming. That’s why the YWCA’s LiNC program — Living in New Circumstances — exists.
Through a series of supportive classes, women regain confidence and reclaim their power.
Eighteen women walked into LiNC classes in 2024, each with unique challenges and strengths.
One was Vanessa*. She had silently endured more than a decade of abuse without ever calling 9-1-1. Then her partner’s violence escalated to strangulation. She feared for her life.
A CPS caseworker recommended she look into LiNC. Vanessa showed up with two black eyes and a broken tooth, afraid to walk to her bike alone after class. But she was vulnerable and ready to heal.
“As I got to know Vanessa,” said LiNC Director Andraya Anderson, “I saw an amazing mom with amazing children. She didn’t have a car, but somehow she still made it to all of her kids’ school activities!”
Vanessa began to believe in herself again and found strength in a supportive community.
“In LiNC,” Andraya said, “each woman can feel safe, cry, and work on regaining the power that was taken away from them.”
Fun Factory Gave Joy, Thanks to You
The 2024 Fun Factory team logged 1,874 miles this summer visiting places kids gather in Walla Walla and nearby communities like Touchet, Prescott, and Dayton.
With a van full of glitter, games, and googly eyes, they offered eight weeks of free kids’ activities — all made possible by YWCA donors.
The team reflected on the summer as a time of growth, becoming more patient and improving their crafting skills. Though they adored kids of all ages, they especially loved visiting the Inspire preschool.
“I was nervous about interacting with children under 5 who spoke little English,” said van driver Lindsay Drango. “But they were so sweet. And communicating in Spanish was a fun challenge.”
“At some places,” said Kiley Komnik, one of the leaders, “we felt like celebrities, the kids were so excited to see us.”
Kiley also shared that the job made them feel more connected with the community. “Kids recognized me in the grocery store!”
“It’s great that YWCA donors support such a fun, rewarding program for kids in Walla Walla and nearby areas,” said David Craine, another team member.
“Fun Factory,” David confessed, “almost doesn’t feel like a job!”
Fueling Hope for a Special Mom
WHEN ADVOCATE Karen Angel met Grace in the shelter and asked about her needs, she answer broke her heart.
“She told me she would like to have a little more food,” Karen said. She had been skipping meals to make sure her kids had enough to eat.
Karen shopped Grace where to find supplies that YWCA clients were welcome to share – a wide variety of foods furnished by community donations.
The more she learned about Grace, including her struggles with an unreliable Ford Focus that barely fit her family of five, the more impressed Karen was by the young woman’s resilience, resourcefulness, and care for her kids.
So while United Way asked for nominations of families whose lives would be improved by owning a reliable used car, Karen and Grace celebrated under the Bushman Award – Karen helped move forward.
Grace and her family accepted a used car, thanks to United Way, and she said, “It was big difference for us.”
“Family,” said Karen. “It was an honor being with this gifted mom and her this gift with grace.”
Two-Plus Decades of YWCA Service
A GEORGIA NATIVE who studied engineering and served his country in the Marines during Vietnam, Tom Stanley moved here in 1980 to keep the line running at Continental Can.
During his time there, the can lines were the company’s best across the country. When the plant closed in 2002, Tom went to work in agrichemicals, till we found him and he become the YWCA Plant/Facilities Director.
Tom understood the importance of well-maintained facilities to show the community that their investment in the YWCA was in good hands. His meticulous care extended the useful lives of all our YWCA buildings and systems.
Pedestrians routinely complimented the YWCA grounds and asked who did the work – Tom and his staff of course! And building users were regularly astounded at how clean the restrooms were, even on weekends.
Tom retired after 22 years of faithful service, including many years as YWCA’s lone male employee. Said Tom (imagine this in his Georgia accent), “I loved my time at the YWCA. It was wonderful to work with people who care so much.”
Creating Rural Opportunities
“BRINGING HIGH-QUALITY childcare to Dayton in 2024 wasn’t just an achievement, it was a necessity,” said Executive Director Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin.
“RoseMary’s Place is a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together to support its youngest members and their families.”
Columbia County Health System (CCHS) remodeled a retirement home on their campus, re-imagining it for infants through 6-year-olds.
Then, through an extensive proposal process, CCHS chose the YWCA to run the center.
Federal investments and grants from community partners like Sherwood Trust and Columbia REA helped with renovations as well as equipping, furnishing, and staffing the center, which opened in April.
These efforts give Columbia County parents the chance to pursue careers and education knowing their children are in caring, capable hands.
Honoring Those Who Make a Difference ↘
As we reflect on 2024, we are grateful for the individuals who have gone above and beyond to support the families we serve.
Kendra Nelson Wenzel (shown here sharing a hug with Anne-Marie) is a philanthropic champion for YWCA programs and people.
A past board member, her passionate support continues to shape our future as a leader on the nominating committee — a crucial group that identifies and recruits the dedicated individuals who guide our organization forward.
Her thoughtful leadership ensures that the YWCA remains strong, mission-driven, and ready for the challenges ahead.
Longtime board member Michelle Southern has been a driving force behind the YWCA Believe Party. Under her leadership as chair, Believe raised $300,348 over the last four years, providing survivors of domestic violence with support they need to rebuild their lives.
Just as important is the way this fun, mission-focused evening welcomes new supporters into the YWCA community, ensuring that more people understand the urgency and importance of the work.
Lana Bushman, Director of Client Services since May, stepped into a new leadership role this year, overseeing our domestic violence shelter and critical services for survivors. Her leadership ensures they receive compassionate, high-quality care.
Beyond strengthening our programs, Lana has been instrumental in building a strong, dedicated team to support survivors at every stage of their journey.
She has fostered a culture of empathy, expertise, and resilience, ensuring that every person who walks through our doors finds safety, hope, and a path forward.
To these remarkable individuals—and to all of you who have supported YWCA in countless ways — thank you. Your generosity, time, and dedication make a difference every day.
2024 IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
18 women Living in New Circumstances (LiNC) sharpened life skills and how to connect to community resources
5,886 nights were spent in shelter by 125 adults and 123 children
226 survivors had advocates by their side as they navigated the court system
45 children grew in their readiness for school and life at My Friends’ House
689 domestic violence and 89 sexual assault survivors entered the YWCA doors for support services like safety planning and shelter
286 survivors met with promotora advocates at community events to secure information, services, and resources
1,318 calls to the crisis line were answered with information and referrals
1,675 kids ages 4-10 played and made crafts with the Fun Factory
55 survivors’ households had brighter holidays with Adopt-a-Family
364 people got help filing protection orders
105 girls talked about healthy relationships and gained self-confidence in Mariposa groups
2,800 breakfasts, lunches, and twice-daily snacks kept 27 kiddos energized at RoseMary’s Place
37 survivors found empathy and solidarity in support groups