History | YWCA Richmond

Learn a bit more about how the oldest YWCA in the south became the YWCA Richmond we are today, with this brief look at our history:

1887

YWCA Richmond was conceived in a parlor meeting of eight women on May 16, 1887

1888

Opened a boarding home, which would accommodate 19 young women moving to Richmond for factory work

1891

Opened day nursery to care for children while their mothers worked in local factories

1911

Phillis Wheatley Branch opened, one of the country’s first African-American branches

1914

Began construction of the YWCA facility on 5th Street; the building was designed for programs focusing on residence and physical fitness

1930

Assisted in starting the Southern Commission on Interracial Cooperation

1960

All programs became fully integrated.

1979

Started a sexual assault center, one of the first in Virginia; it operates today as Richmond’s only 24-Hour sexual assault center; Opened the first shelter for battered women in Richmond

1989

Opened the first shelter for battered women in Chesterfield initiated the first and only preschool program for homeless children in Richmond

1996

Eliminated health and fitness programs to concentrate on three focus areas: domestic violence, sexual violence, and early childhood education

2001

Raised more than $4 million through the Rebuilding Hope Capital Campaign to renovate the Richmond domestic violence shelter and the historic 5th Street building

2006

Child Development Center became one of only a few nonprofit centers certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

2007

YWCA Richmond celebrated its 120th Anniversary

2008

Opened a second year-round, full-day Child Development Center site within the Chippenham Place apartment community; Celebrated the retirement of Cathy Pond who served as Executive Director for 15 years.

2009

Started the Regional Hospital Accompaniment Response Team (R-HART) program in collaboration with Safe Harbor and Hanover Safe Place to serve MCV and Bon Secours Health Systems

2010

Implementation of new strategic plan and change in housing model to transitional housing

2011

Celebrated 120 years of providing childcare to Richmond

2012

Welcomed Linda S.Tissiere as Chief Executive Officer and celebrated our 125th Anniversary

2013

Awarded $100,000 Impact100 grant to launch the Rapid Rehousing Transformation Project, in conjunction with emergency services for victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.

2014

Introduced the Pat Asch Fellowship for Social Justice
Launched the Greater Richmond Regional Hotline in collaboration with Project Hope @ Quin Rivers, Inc., Hanover Safe Place, Safe Harbor RVA and The James House. (now Goochland Free Clinic, as well)

2015

Celebrated 35th Anniversary of the Outstanding Women Awards.
Greater Richmond Regional Hotline is awarded the 2015 Innovation in Homeless Service award from Homeward.
Launched the Sprout School and began construction on classrooms at the Children’s Museum of Richmond