Eliminating Racism & Empowering Women for over 100 years.

YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity, and social justice across intersections of race, age, color, disability, faith, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, social class, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression and all other identities represented among our diverse community.

History

YWCA Carlisle was founded by the Carlisle Civic Club and incorporated in 1919. We opened the first daycare center in the greater Carlisle Area, offered fitness and empowerment programs for women and girls in the early 1920s, started clubs for African American girls in the 1930’s, and provided food to those in need during the Great Depression.

The first home of YWCA Carlisle was the Bosler House on West High Street. In 1972, we moved into the YMCA facility on South West Street. In 1990, the YWCA Carlisle built a new facility at 301 G Street on property donated by the George family, which is still home to our Administrative Offices, Preschool & Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services. Today, we are YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County so our name better represents all the communities we serve.

We’re here to help

YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County operates Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services of Cumberland County to support victims of sexual assault and their families. Our Community Impact department features various youth empowerment programs (like Empower & Equip Programs, Youth Leadership Conference, Martin’s Mission, and more) along with Women’s Empowerment Programs. Our preschool is dedicated to providing quality early childhood education to all families in the community. Racial justice is a critical focus and one of the two mission pillars of the organization and drives our partnership with Carlisle Hope Station, a local community organization working the empower the Memorial Park neighborhood. YWCA is involved with community outreach, trainings, rallies, panel events and discussions to address racial and social justice issues playing out in our region.

How we receive support

YWCA Carlisle appreciates generous contributions received from individual donors, local clubs, and organizations, as well as private & family foundations.

YWCA Carlisle receives funding support from many local, state, and federal contracts.

Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Services (SARCS) of Cumberland County is the beneficiary of funds from Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) which administers funds from several PA state agencies. Through collaborative efforts with the District Attorney’s office, the program receives Victims Of Crime Act (VOCA) funding and PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) funding.

We also receive the generous support of United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County, United Way of the Capital Region, and United Way of the Shippensburg Area.

The Housing Authority of Carlisle & Cumberland County supports youth programs at YWCA Carlisle at Grandview Court.

Gifts from our Corporate Partners ensure that YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County continues to provide youth, racial and social justice programming to communities, school districts and businesses in Cumberland County. Their contributions support activities such as Preschool Scholarships, as well as our Community Impact & Racial Justice Programs.