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Please take a moment to consider the story of siblings, Jose and Maria. In September 2008, the children arrived at Fern Hill elementary school with extremely poor reading ability. They lacked sufficient understanding of the English language even to complete the simplest homework. Their non-English speaking parents were unable to help with assignments or reading practice.

For immigrants arriving in the United States, gaining language skills is crucial for success in their new American community. English language proficiency is a needed skill to communicate with doctors, teachers, neighbors and colleagues. The ability to speak English is necessary to pass the U.S. citizenship test as well. Children in families that are linguistically disadvantaged may face many educational disadvantages now and in the future and higher education is often a farfetched dream.

For Jose and Maria, their ESL teacher was a huge help but it was not enough. Their grades and reading levels were not improving. It was a familiar story: Immigrant children struggling to perform in school. Often, these children slip so far behind that performance at grade level becomes impossible. Add to that the fact that the majority of the families are struggling to make ends meet. Some live in shelters or low income housing. Many face additional challenges such as domestic abuse, family substance abuse or gang activity.

We are asking you to join us in helping children like Jose and Maria with a gift to the YWCAngels Campaign.

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YWCA TEAM Program Receives $10,000 Grant from Comcast

Comcast representative Kevin Broadhurst presents a check for $10,000 to Board Treasurer Judy Shaw (owner of Flowers By The Greenery) and YWCA Program Director Fran Luft. Funds received from Comcast will be used to support the YWCA TEAM afterschool academic tutoring and enrichment program for children who are at-risk for academic failure in the West Chester area. This grant from The Comcast Foundation is in recognition of Comcast's commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work. Since its founding in 19999, The Comcast Foundation has distributed more than $50 million in support of programs implemented locally in Comcast communities.

2009 Inauguration Celebration

The YWCA is thrilled to invite you to join us as we view the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Become Part of this Major and Exciting Historic Event!

Bring your lunch and Celebrate with us as we begin this special day with a film of one of the great stepping stones to this turning point of eliminating racism - Martin Luther King’s, “I Have A Dream” on Jan 20th, 2009 starting at 11:00am.

Pennsylvania Girls Granted Opportunity to Play

“The Women’s Sports Foundation, along with The Hershey Company, is proud to announce the YWCA Chester County of Pennsylvania as a recipient of a 2008 GoGirlGo! National Grant”

NEW YORK, December 11, 2008 – The Women’s Sports Foundation’s GoGirlGo! National Grant program, with support from The Hershey Company, has awarded $4,680 to the YWCA Chester County of West Chester, Pa., to support the organization’s girls’ sports and exercise programs. A total of $40,000 in cash grants was awarded in the state of Pennsylvania this year to organizations that are helping to fight growing rates of inactivity amongst our nation’s girls.

Not only will the YWCA of Chester County affect the lives of 25 pre-teen girls through its lacrosse program, but also approximately 50 female high school lacrosse team members will have the opportunity to mentor a girl in their community. Coaches, parent booster club members and the YWCA staff will help supervise the program that will run twice a month for six months. The program will give the young girls role models to follow and the older girls will learn the importance of being a responsible, active member of their community.

Established in 2001 by the Women’s Sports Foundation, GoGirlGo!’s mission is to encourage girls to become physically active. GoGirlGo! has given more than $3 million to institutions providing equal opportunity for girls to play. Grants have been used to pay for athletic equipment, supplies, facility rental, league/tournament fees, travel, coaching, scholarships and/or program administration expenses for more than 900 organizations.

With funding from its Pennsylvania grant sponsor, The Hershey Company, generous contributions from National Sponsors Advanta Corp. and Gatorade, foundations and individual donors, the Women’s Sports Foundation is able to provide cash grants, as well as its award-winning educational curriculum at no cost to any community organization serving girls. Schools, nonprofits and community centers use the cash grants and curriculum to regularly bring girls together to play sports, exercise and educate them on health-related topics like smoking, stress, body image and bullying.

“The Hershey Company is proud to join the Women’s Sports Foundation in their mission to advance girls’ lives through athletics so that they have just as much opportunity to become stronger, smarter individuals and better leaders,” said Jim George, Vice President, Community Relations for The Hershey Company, “and we strongly believe that supplying resources for the improvement of these programs is a step in that direction.”

About the Women’s Sports Foundation

The Women’s Sports Foundation—the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports—advocates for equality, educates the public, conducts research and offers grants to promote sports and physical activity for girls and women.

Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, the Women’s Sports Foundation builds on her legacy as a champion athlete, advocate of social justice and agent of change. We strive for gender equity and fight discrimination in all aspects of athletics.

Our work shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, provides equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles.

The Women’s Sports Foundation is recognized worldwide for its leadership, vision, strength, expertise and influence.

For more information, please call the Women’s Sports Foundation at 800.227.3988 or visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and sugar confectionery products. With revenues of nearly $5 billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such iconic brands as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey is the leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey’s Special Dark, Hershey’s Extra Dark and Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s. Hershey’s Ice Breakers franchise delivers refreshment across a variety of mint and gum flavors and formats. In addition, Hershey leverages its iconic brands, marketplace scale and confectionery and nut expertise to develop and deliver substantial snacks, including Hershey’s and Reese’s single-serve cookies and brownies, and value-added snack nuts, including Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds and Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Hershey also offers a range of products to address the health and well-being needs of today’s consumer. Hershey’s and Reese’s Snacksters offer consumers great-tasting snacks in portion-controlled servings, while Hershey’s dark chocolate offerings provide the benefits of flavanol antioxidants. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, known for its high-cacao dark chocolate products, Joseph Schmidt, recognized for its fine, handcrafted chocolate gifts, and Dagoba, known for its high-quality natural and organic chocolate bars. Visit us at www.hersheynewsroom.com.

The YWCA of Chester County in the news

Plan to help eliminate racism
September 24, 2008 - Daily Local News

YWCA programs take aim at racism and gender issues
September 23, 2008 - Daily Local News

We want to call attention to the inequity
April 18, 2008 - Daily Local News

Taking their next step
April 7, 2008 - Daily Local News

Into The Mouths Of Babes
November 7, 2007 - Daily Local News

YWCA sponsors weeklong racism awareness event
September 22, 2007 - Daily Local News

Council embraces inclusion
May 22, 2007 - Daily Local News

Preparing for the modern workplace
December 5, 2006 - Daily Local News

The Women of the YWCA
April 5, 2004 - Daily Local News

Skills boost self-confidence
December 9, 2003 - Daily Local News

Race Against Racism

Mark the date! On Sunday April 26th at 1pm the Chester County Running Store is organizing a race through West Chester to benefit the YWCA Chester County and its Racial Justice programs. Click on the icon below to view or download the event flyer.

GoGirlGo!

The YWCA Chester County received a grant from the Women's Sports Foundation's GoGirlGo! Program. The GoGirlGo! Program focuses on getting young people involved in sports and helping them make positive lifestyle choices. Program topics include healthy eating, the importance of staying in school, getting good grades, getting enough sleep, and various other challenges that young girls face today. The GoGirlGo! curriculum goes into great detail for each topic, sharing stories of professional athletes and how they have overcome many obstacles in their own lives in order to live a better, healthier, more fulfilled life. Each girl received a scrapbook and story book from the Women's Sports Foundation along with goggles, a lacrosse stick, ball and mouth guard. The equipment and t-shirts were generously provided by Lacrosse International. (Story Contributed by Mr. Chris Lunardi, Bayard Rustin Athletic Director)

Thank you to volunteer Sue Solas and her team for leading this effort. Job well done!