Monday, June 12, 2023 / St. Louis, Missouri – YWCA Metro St. Louis is proud to announce that it has received YWCA USA’s 2023 Association Excellence Award for mission impact in the field of Women’s Empowerment.
The award was presented at the YWCA USA National Conference held in Washington, D.C. on Friday, June 9, after CEOs from more than 200 YWCA associations in the United States voted based on the judging criteria that included: depth of direct services, recognition as a community leader and partner, commitment to the empowerment of all women, and demonstration of successful outcomes for its clients. YWCA Metro St. Louis excels in each of these areas, exemplifying unwavering dedication and expertise in empowering women and their families in every facet of its work.
“This award reflects our agency’s relentless pursuit of women’s empowerment and excellence in services,” said Dr. Cheryl Watkins, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Metro St. Louis. “We are honored to be recognized among such esteemed finalists and we are grateful for the story we have to tell, thanks to our staff, board, volunteers, partners, and supporters.”
In the past year, YWCA Metro St. Louis also received the National Program of Excellence Accreditation from the National Head Start Association (one of only 13 programs in the U.S. and the only YWCA to receive this recognition) and received national accreditation as an Outstanding Provider from Social Current/Council on Accreditation.
YWCA Metro St. Louis was established in 1904 to provide safe housing for women during the World’s Fair. Today, its services are centered on empowerment and include crisis intervention, rapid re-housing, economic stability, and Head Start early education programs. These initiatives support and empower more than 10,000 women and families annually.
To learn more about YWCA Metro St. Louis and its award-winning initiatives, we invite you to watch our submission here.