NEWS RELEASE
YWCA Northern New Jersey Receives Transformative Grant from MacKenzie Scott
Helps bring awareness, education, and further action around racial and gender equity
December 16, 2020—A windfall $3 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott will turbo-charge YWCA Northern New Jersey’s (YWCANNJ) mission of dismantling racism and empowering women, the organization said today. The funding will significantly expand the reach of the non-profit’s cutting-edge racial and gender equity programming and solidify their efforts around issues affecting their communities and workplace.
“We are deeply honored to receive a transformative gift of $3 million from MacKenzie Scott for our commitment to making racial and gender equity a reality,” says CEO Helen Archontou. “What makes this substantial gift so meaningful for YWCANNJ is that it tells Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) that they are seen, that their lives matter, and that they deserve to live in this society with dignity and safety.”
Gretchen Lolis, YWCANNJ board president added, “the board of YWCA Northern NJ is profoundly grateful for MacKenzie Scott’s visionary leadership in making this donation, which will allow us to amplify our services to support women in every stage of life and facilitate an ongoing community conversation on racial justice. As Ms. Scott noted in her statement, this has been a difficult year for all Americans, and a gift like this brings healing and hope for the future.”
As a YWCA USA association, YWCANNJ’s core mission is to eliminate racism and create opportunities that promote equality for all. The organization has a long history of tackling racial, social and gender injustices, and has been fully engaged in education and training before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. They have held numerous events and workshops and offered anti-racism training to Bergen County leaders, women’s empowerment series, and educational forums that have addressed issues like how to raise race-conscious children, the impact of climate change on communities of color, and census and voter awareness. In July, YWCANNJ also hosted a town hall on systemic racism with local and national leaders, bringing to light how racism is embedded within all aspects of our society. Most recently, YWCANNJ launched a 21-Day Social Equity and Racial Justice Challenge to give people actionable ways to build effective social justice habits related to race, power, privilege, and leadership.
YWCANNJ will continue to expand their mission of eliminating racism and empowering women; serving families with child care, and senior wellness programs; expanding sexual assault awareness and prevention while supporting survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones; and improving the lives of women, girls, and families across our community.
To learn more about YWCANNJ or to donate to their Y NOW FUND visit their website at ywcannj.org/donategive
For more info, contact Lori Murray, YWCANNJ Communication Director at 201-345-1888 or lmurray@ywcannj.org.
About YWCA Northern New Jersey
YWCA Northern New Jersey is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting equality for all. We operate healingSPACE, Bergen County’s only Sexual Violence Resource Center (hotline: 201-487-2227), and are a provider of year-round child care, and senior wellness programs. Our 100th year kicked off the expansion of our service area to include Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties and our continued commitment to Bergen. We improve the lives of thousands of women, girls, and families with the generous support of our donors. Learn more by visiting ywcannj.org, following @ywcannj on social media.
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