On a chilly morning in December, the team at Underriner Honda of Walla Walla gathered with anticipation for their annual holiday car giveaway. General Sales Manager Pat Custer took a moment to explain the process. “The United Way gathers nominations,” Pat shared. “Once applications are approved, our staff has the honor of making the final selection.” A partnership of … Continue reading A holiday miracle for Grace and her family
Q. What is the Valley Giving Guide? Valley Giving Guide (VGG) is a month of online giving hosted by Blue Mountain Community Foundation (BMCF) that brings together the entire community to lift up local nonprofits. VGG owes a debt to the Sustainable Living Center, which introduced the Alternative Gift Fair back in 2018, a way to give … Continue reading Questions about the Valley Giving Guide?
Every year, generous volunteers Adopt a YWCA Family to make sure everyone in the shelters has a beautiful season of peace and joy. Also included are families involved in support group and LiNC life skills classes. Clients with the courage to walk away from domestic violence often have little time to think about anything other … Continue reading You make the holidays feel more like home
October is a time to reflect on the seriousness of intimate partner abuse and break the silence about violence. Check out October events below and get ideas for taking action. Walla Walla County Commissioners proclaim October is DVAM: Monday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m., 314 W. Main St. < Saturday, Oct. 26, 11am-1pm: Join YWCA Columbia … Continue reading Domestic Violence Action Month (DVAM)
After a 17-year career in various healthcare positions, Alisha Gonzales was ready for a change. “After the years of COVID-19, it felt like time to try a new route, to figure out what I was truly passionate about and go for it,” she said. She always knew she wanted to help women and children, and … Continue reading Advocate: ‘We are stronger together’
KAREN ANGEL always knew she wanted a job helping people, which is why she studied psychology at Washington State University. She was hired as a YWCA Advocate partway through her degree, which has included many relevant classes like Violence Toward Women, Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents, and Families in Poverty. “When I first began … Continue reading Campus support role for YWCA advocate
Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) succeed when they center on kids’ needs WHEN A CHILD is being abused, the No. 1 priority is that child’s safety and well-being. Children are vulnerable,and they may lack the vocabulary and power to speak for themselves.In her new role at the YWCA, Leslie Bumgardner, Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Coordinator, is helping make … Continue reading Child advocacy: Your support empowers young lives
Friday, June 14, was a day filled with love, memories, and tradition as Brianna and Joaquin celebrated their wedding where Brianna’s grandmother and great-aunt tied the knot more than 50 years earlier. Brianna’s great-aunt Norma and great-uncle Frank exchanged vows in the YWCA reception room in 1972, and her grandparents, Mary and Merle, followed a … Continue reading Family ties bind YWCA wedding tradition
Our new Director of Client Services, Lana Bushman, has always found satisfaction in helping people grow, heal and flourish, especially women and children who can’t advocate for themselves.Being a survivor herself, she said, makes it easier for her to comprehend all that they are going through when dealing with domestic violence (DV) or sexual assault … Continue reading Lana leads caring team of Advocates
To access the 2023 YWCA Year in Review report as text, click here.