YWCA NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA CELEBRATES TRADITION
Organization Brings Back Famed Chocolate Chip Cookie During Centennial

Washington, DC, May 16, 2005 - When the YWCA National Capital Area (YWCA/NCA) honored a leader from the YWCA movement's early days, civil rights pioneer Dr. Dorothy Height this past March, it also recognized a significant historic milestone: 100 years in the Washington metropolitan area. Chairing its centennial, themed A Voice for Women and a Voice for Change, is former YWCA USA board president Alexine Jackson, and attorney, Bardyl Triana. Among the yearlong activities is a Chocolate Chip Cookie Bakeoff that commemorates the days when the famed cookie attracted thousands of customers.

For those in Washington and neighboring communities who remember the chocolate chip cookies, they also remember the 1980s and the final days of this age old tradition at the YWCA/NCA's old headquarters. A New York Times article quoted 7,000 cookie sales, with lines snaking from the entrance to around the corner of the soon-to-be demolished building. "This commemorative edition of the chocolate chip cookie not only supports our critical program needs but also reminds us of how far we have come from our early beginnings owed to determined women who sowed the seeds that brought us to this place," shared Orysia Stanchak, YWCA/NCA executive director.

Ten finalists will participate in a bakeoff, occurring at Stratford University, School of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, July 12, 2005. The winning entry will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges; cookies will be available for purchase at the YWCA Birthday party and VIP reception, September 28th. Entry information is available via www.ywcanca.org or Chef Traster, at Stratford, dtraster@stratford.edu. Submission deadline is June 13th.

Along with the bakeoff and birthday party are other Centennial Celebration events, including an international women's art show, September 6th - October 21st, at the Edison Gallery, and a historic documentation outreach program that captures the YWCA/NCA story in a compelling and thought provoking words and images.

From the days when its International Fair attracted foreign dignitaries to those concerns central to its mission today: career education and training, health and wellness, and child and youth development, the YWCA remains at the forefront of empowering women.