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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2007
Contact:
, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
YWCA – 100 YEARS
DEEP IN THE HEART OF AUSTIN
Austin, Texas – From deep in the heart of Austin, Texas, the YWCA of Greater Austin has reached a major milestone in its history -- celebrating 100 years of service to the community. To commemorate this historic occasion, the Austin History Center and the YWCA are exhibiting some items from the extensive archives of one of the oldest YWCAs in the state of Texas. This exhibit will be displayed in the Grand Hallway and Lobby of the Austin History Center from March through June 29, 2007.
A reception to officially open the exhibit will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe Street, where proclamations will be presented by the Austin City Council, as well as presentations on the extensive history of Austin’s own YWCA.
Said Daphne Garza, YWCA executive assistant, “The board, staff and volunteers of the YWCA are very proud to be part of this outstanding organization that has served the Austin community for 100 years. The exhibit at the Austin History Center and reception is just the beginning of the YWCA’s year-long centennial celebration of events.”
This exhibit will undoubtedly surprise some Austinites to know that throughout its extensive history, their hometown YWCA played a major role in the creation of
- the city’s first community gardens, which today is part of Austin’s Sustainable Food Center that teaches sustainable food gardening; organizes markets for locally-grown produce in urban areas; donates produce to area food pantries, and trains individuals and institutions to prepare healthy and affordable meals.
- a program for “troubled teenagers”, known as Middle Earth Drug Crisis Center, which today is part of Austin’ largest local provider of services to runaway and homeless youth, known as LifeWorks.
- Austin’s largest alternative high school, known originally as the American Institute for Learning, which today, as American Youthworks, is located in the heart of downtown.
Incorporated in 1907 in the State of Texas as the Young Women’s Christian Association of the University of Texas, the YWCA of Greater Austin has always been more than exercise and fitness programs, as so many YW’s are – the YWCA of Greater Austin is, and always has been, a service organization. The work the YWCA is doing today has a connection with the work the University YW volunteers and members created decades ago.
The YWCA has a long history of empowering women and girls and eliminating racism. Through 336 affiliates with locations in thousands of communities nationwide, the YWCA represents more than two million women, girls and their families. The YWCA of Greater Austin offers mental health counseling for women, couples, and families; prevention/intervention services to at-risk girls and other youth; therapeutic supervised visitations for non-custodial parents and information and referral services, professional education, and a variety of community service and fundraising events. Call the YWCA at 512-326-1222 or go to www.YWCAaustin.org, to find out more about the YWCA of Greater Austin’s services and programs.
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