YWCA 2020 Annual Report

2020 ANNUAL REPORT
44 Washington Avenue | Schenectady, NY 12305 | www.ywca-neny.org

YWCA NorthEastern NY is dedicated to
eliminating racism, empowering women, and
promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

DV SUPPORT SERVICES HOUSING

Comprehensive domestic violence support services, The Housing Program provides safe housing and
including: 24-hour shelter; 24-hour emergency services for homeless and/or low-income women

hotline; advocacy services; group, indivual & family through four programs: SRO (Single Room
counseling; holiday assistance; referrals; crisis Occupancy), Rosa's House, Stepping Stones, and
intervention; and economic empowerment Rapid Rehousing. Support services for the women
include advocacy, mental health counseling, support
Domestic Violence Shelter
219 - # of women, children & men who groups, information and referrals, health and
stayed in our domestic violence shelter recreation opportunities and an emergency food
90 days - average length of stay in the shelter
5,286 - # of calls received through our pantry and clothing closet.
24-hour domestic violence hotline
Housing
Counseling (phone and in-person) 98 - # of women served through our housing
1,456 - # of hours counselors spent with clients program, but with an increased capacity, we
1,013 phone sessions could easily serve more
315 in-person sessions 4-6 months - length of our wait list for
18 video sessions housing services
98 - # of counseling groups held
138 - attendees at groups Mental Health Counseling (phone and in-person)
35 - # of residents who received mental health
Family Violence Prevention Program counseling services
22 - clients served through this new program 500 - # of hours the mental health counselor
103 - sessions (48 in-person, 55 via phone) spent in individual sessions, providing
crisis management and in groups
Advocacy
553 - # of clients who received individual Additional Stats
counseling (phone & in-person) a total of 4,098 5,500 - approximate number of individually
times packaged meals provided to residents (both on
309 - clients helped with victim compensation a & off-site) & shelter clients, 7 days/week
total of 393 times from March through June 2020
194 - # of clients assisted with protection 7 - # of farm stands providing free, fresh
orders a total of 338 times produce and other food items to residents &
clients, sponsored by the Regional Food Bank of
Patty's Place Northeastern NY & The Schenectady Foundation
159 - # of people who utilized Patty's Place Hundreds - masks donated by the
1,231 - personal care items distributed community to help keep everyone safe

In 2020, more than ever, YWCA NENY program staff showed Throughout 2020, our community came together to support
their dedication to our community & its most vulnerable our residents and keep them safe. They donated masks,
food packaging supplies, hygiene items, food, water, and
members. In March 2020, much of the team left not realizing more for our residents and clients. Our emergency food
they wouldn’t be returning to their offices for several weeks,
while others had to continue caring for those in our shelter pantry increased in size & found a temporary location in our
& housing programs. Scared for their own safety & dealing yoga studio, enabling us to provide free food, hygiene items,
with personal COVID-related challenges, our staff continued & cleaning supplies to those affected by the pandemic. Staff
to show up & find ways to adapt to a virtual service delivery
model that was well outside of their comfort zone. Energies shifted responsibilities and ran errands for residents who
were unable to leave their homes. Events, such as the well-
were refocused on helping our clients meet their basic loved Soroptimist Holiday Party & TBTN were modified for
needs & addressing food insecurity, mental health safety. Recovery groups were held virtually. There was an
management, converting to telemedicine with vital increase in reading, artwork/creation, & puzzle-making.
healthcare providers & ensuring all residents in our

programs had access to PPE & our staff when needed.

EARLY LEARNING CENTERS DEVELOPMENT

Our two Early Learning Centers, located at Club 1888 - Named for the year of our founding, Club
Washington Avenue & SUNY Schenectady, both offer 1888 was launched in 2020. It is YWCA NENY's
premiere donor & volunteer program. Members will:
full-day early learning. They are licensed & NAEYC
(National Association for the Education of Young Empower supporters to make a difference
Children) accredited. Each center also voluntarily Empower women and eliminate racism
Connect with peers who support YWCA NENY
participates in QUALITYstarsNY. They offer Work together for our future
developmentally appropriate curriculum for children Engage and inspire one time donors
to become sustaining supporters
from six weeks to five years old. Deepen our impact exponentially
Advocate for YWCA and its mission
The pandemic impacted the operations & staffing of Volunteer Hours
our two Early Learning Centers. 950+ - # of hours logged by volunteers
In Kind Donations
January 1 - March 15, 2020 - both centers open and 105+ - # of individuals/organizations who
operating at capacity donated items
March 16 - both centers closed due to the pandemic
Some staff shifted responsibilities to help in other 2020 FINANCIALS
areas that YWCA NENY needed, including front desk
coverage, food delivery to off-site residents, and
running errands for those who could not leave their
homes due to health concerns.
June 1 - Washington Avenue center re-opened
September 8 - SUNY Schenectady center re-opened
in coordination with the college
Both sites are currently operating at half capacity
due to restrictions and staffing
Program Highlights
We were honored with The Daily Gazette People's
Choice Best of the Best Award for early learning
education for the 3rd year in a row.
Numerous local foundations granted us with
thousands of dollars in funding to help our ELCs
re-open safely and securely. Purchases included:
childcare management software & 10 tablets to
provide fast, paperless check-in & check-out as well
as updates, reports & photos for parents &
guardians; portable sinks; hygiene items; scrubs &
Crocs for staff.
Children were still able to enjoy a Halloween Party,
Thanksgiving Lunch & Holiday Party, though
modified for the safety of all participants.

*unaudited
The 2020 Annual Report reflects all gifts made from January 1,
2020 through December 31, 2020. We are very grateful to all of
our donors, who help make our important work possible. For a

complete list of donors, please visit www.ywca-neny.org.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP 2019-2020
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dear Friends and Family of YWCA NorthEastern NY:
2020 was an unbelievable year for the world, for our country, for our community, Executive Committee
for each of us personally AND for YWCA NorthEastern NY. Amazing examples of Carole Merrill-Mazurek
global cooperation, community support, individual heroics, and love for all President
things YW were evident as we worked together to overcome such unfathomable Kathleen Fialkowski
obstacles! Vice President
It is with inspiration in our hearts and gratitude in our souls that we write this Yuvette Wayman
letter to you not just about our survival in 2020, but our achievements and our Treasurer
successes. Serving the Schenectady community and the Greater Capital Region Lauren Gregoire
for 133 years with our mission-focused work, YWCA NENY is proud to provide Secretary
quality programming in our three main focus areas: Early Learning, Domestic
Violence, and Housing. Our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women Board of Directors
and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all is the driving force in Renee Adamany
our daily work. Crystal Bedard
Throughout 2020 we found the will to thrive in a pandemic, changed programs Pamela Carter
and titles of staff to achieve greater client support, and saw some of the most Walda Chesnut
supportive outreach from community members, foundations, and partners that Natasa Dugandzic
we have ever seen. We closed programs temporarily, we repurposed other staff Anne Fernandez
to take on different roles at the YW, and we reimagined our work using Sandra Goldmeer
technology, virtual meetings and remote work options. Nikita Hardy
Even with these challenges, we still were voted the People’s Choice Award for Imelda Lane
best early learning program in the Daily Gazette THREE years in the running! Our Catherine Lewis
residents in shelter and housing were still supported by an amazing staff group Susan Marlette
who changed work hours, shifted responsibilities and reconfigured how to Katrina Middleton
provide services on the fly. Our domestic violence team all worked together to Katherine Stephens
make sure clients in need got services immediately, with dignity and a Jennifer Zhao
welcoming smile. Even though we had to cancel our biggest fundraiser, the
Women of Achievement Celebration, we were still able to celebrate amazing
women doing amazing things all around us. Community partners stood with
YWCA NorthEastern NY in solidarity to fight against a pandemic, give each other
a helping hand, and bring awareness to women’s issues. And, we embarked
further on our quest to realize the full potential at YWCA NorthEastern NY by
setting sights on the development of an additional building on our campus and
an upgrade of our current building. Our beloved Mary Hill House saw a total
exterior facelift – including a new roof, new windows, new front vestibule and
renovated rear entrance, giving residents a home to be proud of. At our main
building we installed two new commercial boilers, four new roof sections, a slate
roof, a new phone system, and an internal and external security system, making
our services safer, more efficient and truly cutting edge. We were even granted
funding to purchase two new vehicles for program support and client needs. Our
Development Department saw its highest donor support ever and our Board
voted to embark on a year-long Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey using a
consulting firm to support staff and board members in becoming an antiracist
organization.
It is truly unbelievable all that we have accomplished TOGETHER! More now,
than ever, the inseparable relationship between quality programs, passionate
purpose, and dedicated people, continues to drive our MISSION work. We thank
our staff, our corporate partners, our many contributors in the community and
our greater YW family.
With Sincere Appreciation and Solidarity of Sisterhood,

Kim Siciliano Carole Merrill-Mazurek
CEO Board President