Senator and Mayor Lend Names to YWCA Centennial
Friends and Supporters Help YWCA National Capital Area Celebrate 100 Years

Washington, DC, July 5, 2005 - Senator and Mrs. George Allen and Mayor and Mrs. Anthony Williams are honorary co-chairs of the YWCA National Capital Area Centennial Celebration. "The list of local luminaries supporting our centennial is growing," says Orysia Stanchak, the organization's executive director. Among them are Alexine Jackson, former YWCA USA board president; legal expert, Bardyl Tirana; White House Correspondent, Helen Thomas; political pundit, Mark Shields; jazz musicians, Davey Yarborough and Esther Williams; and Luis Vasquez, of MAYA Advertising & Communications.

Events kicked off in March with a tribute to Dr. Dorothy Height, a pioneer in the YWCA movement. On July 12, the organization holds a chocolate chip cookie bake off, in partnership with Stratford University, School of Culinary Arts. The original cookie attracted thousands of customers, among them First Lady Barbara Bush and TV personality, Willard Scott. The organization will produce the winning commemorative recipe in limited quantities with proceeds to support programs serving women and girls in the greater Washington metropolitan area. Events continue in the fall with Voices, an art exhibition at the Edison Gallery showcasing "voices" of women from around the world, and a VIP Reception and Birthday Party, where the organization will honor three area outstanding women and unveil the YWCA historical archives.

For further information, contact Kate Greiner, 202. 626.0700, ext. 30.

Editor's Note: 1905-2005 - YWCA National Capital Area, celebrating a century of empowering women economically, politically, and socially. To learn how we are celebrating our centennial year, please email ywca@ywcanca.org.