In 1855, the first Young Women’s Christian Association began in England as a spiritual and social support system for young English women living through the Industrial Revolution and Crimean War. Since then, the YWCA has grown to become an international presence devoted to creating an environment where women work for social and economic change for more than 150 years.

On this day, February 10th, in 1858, the first YWCA was founded in New York.  The mission of the YWCA would grow far beyond the first New York location, which is still operating today.  The New York location has many unique programs, which focus on human service-oriented programs, such as early learning centers, family resource centers and out-of-school programs.

YWCA USA now has more than 1,000 sites around the country and boasts more than 2.5 million members and participants.  YWCA’s programs are still aimed to counter a plethora of social and economic issues including: domestic violence, economic empowerment and leadership, racial justice, housing and shelter, child, youth and teen programs, and health/fitness.