YWCA luncheon highlights community programs
The YWCA of Northwest Louisiana will host the first Women Who Care, Share Luncheon on Sept. 25 at East Ridge Country Club. The event will serve as the new fundraising event for the revamped YWCA of Northwest Louisiana.
“We wanted to let the community know we are up and running. We never really went away,” Vivian Andrews, chair of the Women Who Care, Share committee and a member of the YWCA of Northwest Louisiana’s board of directors, said.
After the YWCA closed its doors to its downtown Shreveport office, the organization itself never closed. A group of women continued to work behind-thescenes to make sure Shreveport-Bossier City would have a YWCA chapter.
The YWCA’s chief goal is to establish a women’s resource center; this fundraiser will help make the center a reality, Andrews said.
“The women’s resource center would be a one-stop shop for women. There are lots of services going on now, and women just don’t know where to go,” she said. The resource center would partner with other organizations to offer whatever women may need – clothing, counseling, legal aid, etc.
The luncheon, beginning at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature Jennifer Shoab, the CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge YWCA, as the keynote speaker.
“She’s awesome, and we’re looking forward to hearing from her,” Andrews said.
Instead of selling tickets, the YWCA encourages women in the community to host tables and fill eight seats with friends, family, and or colleagues, all donating a minimum of $100 to the organization.
In addition to lunch and the keynote speaker, a silent auction and raffle will take place. The silent auction boasts 25 to 30 items, including spa gift certificates jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, and a Kelly Moore bag.
“ We’re women helping women, and we want to continue to get bigger and better.”
“They’re going to be first-class,” she said.
The silent auction will also include items that align with the YWCA’s mission to help women, Andrews said, including free legal services.
“We tried to think of things you might not need but you could give to another woman who needs it.”
Tickets for two dinners will serve as the most unique auction items, Andrews said. A history dinner at the home of Gary and Marilyn Joiner will offer a meal and a history lesson for eight people. Gary is an associate professor of history at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and director of the Red River Regional Studies Center. The Southern Living Dinner at the home of Winzer and Vivian Andrews reprises a favorite YWCA dinner of years past, Vivian said, hosting eight guests.
A $250 gift certificate and a $500 gift certificate to Stephen Miller Fine Jewelry will be raffled off with tickets starting at $10.
The Women Who Care, Share committee was formed to develop an annual fundraiser for the revamped YWCA. The proceeds of the fundraiser will go to developing their women’s resource center and ensure basic needs for the organization, such as hiring a full-time executive director.
“We’re women helping women, and we want to continue to get bigger and better,” Andrews said.
If interested in attending or sponsoring the luncheon, call the YWCA of Northwest Louisiana at 550-4417.
EmpowEring womEn:
Members of the Women Who Care, Share Committee:
Vivian Andrews-Chair, Jean Ware, Marilyn Joiner, Judy Lenert, Noreen Dockendorf, Sandy Cimino, Linda Biernacki, Janet Murphy, Rhonda MacIsaac
