YWCA Receives Donation From Woman's Club of White Plains

The Woman’s Club of White Plains ended its centennial year by presenting $15,000 to the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester, continuing a partnership begun in 1921.

“The Woman’s Club of White Plains has a long and beautiful history with the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester and we couldn’t think of a more fitting way for us to end our centennial year celebration than supporting the good work of the YWCA on behalf of our area’s girls, women and families” said Christine Roithmayr, President of the Woman’s Club of White Plains Foundation.

Present to accept the check were Maria Imperial, CEO and Chrissy Esposito, Chief Finance and Administrative Officer of the YWCA and Pat Jones and Lynn Pollack from the YWCA Board of Directors.

Ms. Imperial said, “The YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester is grateful to the White Plains Woman’s Club for having the vision to organize the “Community Girls Works” Program in 1921 to empower young women and give them a room of their own. This room has become our YWCA. There’s never been a time in our history when women need to stick together and support one another more. With the Woman’s Club continued partnership, there are no limits to creating the change we want to see. Strong alone, fearless together.”

The relationship between the Woman’s Club and the YWCA is goes back almost as far as the Woman’s Club itself. The Community Girls Works program was conceived by the Woman’s Club in 1921 to address the needs of young working women and girls. It was hugely successful and rapidly expanded to include a variety of classes and activities. By the end of the 1920’s, almost 3,000 girls and women had participated. In February 1929, the Woman’s Club submitted an application to the national YWCA for a branch in White Plains to take over this increasingly popular program. By April 1929 the YWCA of White Plains was a reality.

At the Woman’s Club Gala of the Century in November, the YWCA was honored for its community service. The other evening’s honorees, Mary Jane Goldman of PIP Printing and Marketing and Ruth Mahoney of KeyBank, were also recognized for their generosity and philanthropic efforts.

The Woman’s Club of White Plains is a diverse group of women with a shared sense of civic responsibility and a desire to give back to the community. Its mission is to enhance the lives of others as well as their members by participating in and sponsoring volunteer, charitable and fund-raising activities as well as social, educational and networking opportunities. In addition, the Club is also responsible for maintaining and restoring the historic CV Rich mansion, its clubhouse since 1930. The Woman’s Club believes every woman can contribute to the various opportunities the Club offers and invites women of all ages to join them as they continue their work to improve our communities. For more information about Club events and membership, see the website www.womansclubofwhiteplains.org.

Picture 1 L - R, Chrissy Esposito, Pat Jones, Lynn Pollack and Maria Imperial of the YWCA and Colleen Fay and Christine Roithmayr of the Woman's Club

Picture 2 L - R, Maria Imperial, CEO YWCA and Christine Roithmayr, President, Woman's Club of White Plains Foundation'

Photos courtesy of Emily Barry