Who We Are
YWCA Canton was established in 1909 and is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Today, the people who represent YWCA and those we serve are diverse in every way. We welcome everyone regardless of religion, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, abilities, socio-economic status and other dimensions of difference. All are welcome.
Funding for the YWCA Canton is provided by the United Way of Greater Stark County. United Way improves the quality of lives through lasting community change by supporting programs in Health, Education, and Financial Stability. The organization convenes and collaborates to support programs and initiatives that promote a community where children are healthy and successful from kindergarten to high school to career and where families have the supports, tools and skills to break the cycle of poverty to become financially independent. For more information about United Way of Stark County, visit www.uwstark.org.
At the YWCA Canton, we provide emergency shelter to the homeless and tools to help them get back on their feet and become self-sufficient. The YWCA Canton also provides early care and education services to children that enhance their development and prepare them to be successful as they transition to kindergarten.
The YWCA is proud to be the oldest and largest women’s movement, providing services for women and their families in our community. YWCA is committed to the empowerment of women, but our organization is not comprised of only women — or serving only women. Our programs serve women and men and their families.
YWCA is not a religious organization. We are an independent nonprofit organization with no formal ties to any religious group. While YWCA’s roots are grounded in the values of our devotedly Christian founders, the organization embraces and is strengthened by the richness of its diversity.
Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for all.
YWCA MISSION
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of women leaders using their passion, insights, and connections in the community, to create real impact for YWCA Canton.
2023 – 2024 Officers
Gloria Pope
Board Chair
Kay Feagles
Board Treasurer
Aleisha Stout
Board Secretary
Directors
Jeneanne Ballos
Board Member
Morgan Barth, esq.
Board Member
Lori Fuchs
Board Member
Lisa Johnson
Board Member
Sara Stucky-Sayner
Board Member
Lori Shirley
Board Member
Dr. Carole Sutton
Board Member
Diane Stevens-Robinson
Board Member
Dr. Jennifer Webb
Board Member
Latrice Virola
Board Member
115 Years of Service: Our History
2024 marks 115 years since the YWCA Canton was incorporated and received its first charter.
1909 marked the beginning of a movement in Canton, OH that has since made an impact in the lives of many women and girls. When first incorporated the YWCA Canton offered twenty gym classes, as well as sewing, millinery, dressmaking, cooking, English Literature, German, French and guitar lessons. From there the Sunshine Society was organized which was the forerunner for the Girl Reserves, later known as the Y-Teens. Swimming classes, social dances, dormitory living for working women in the downtown area, as well as free educational classes to unemployed women and men were offered.
In 1951 the current facility was opened.
Recreational classes were held until the late ’80’s when the swimming pool was closed. In 1976, the YWCA began offering preschool educational classes for children in the area. The YWCA began a new direction in the late ’80’s focusing on housing for those in emergency situations and those needing child care. In 1986, the building was converted into an emergency homeless shelter. Five years later, the swimming pool was converted to the YWCA Infant and Toddler Center. From there our services have continued to grow.
Our child care services were expanded in 2013 when Canton Preschool integrated with our on-site YWCA Canton Early Childhood Learning Center. One year later the ECLC earned our first five-star Step Up to Quality rating through Ohio’s quality rating system and has maintained the rating since. In March 2015, the YWCA Canton was awarded a five year, renewable $1.9 million, Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. The grant provides for year-round comprehensive child development and family support services for 140 Stark County children who range from six weeks to three years and live in low-income households through 5 center-based and 2 family child care program partnerships at locations throughout Stark County.
In March 2019, we were awarded an additional five year, renewable $1 million, combined Early Head Start Child Care Partnership and Early Head Start Expansion grant that allows for us to provide services for an additional 68 children in Stark County.
A Healthy, Balanced Lifestyle
Our transitional housing facility, New Beginnings opened in 1994 and converted to permanent supportive housing facility in 2016. Gateway Estates followed in 2001 as permanent supportive housing for the hard-to house homeless. Gateway House II was built ten years later and opened to provide additional permanent supportive housing.
Our Rapid Re-housing program for Stark County was implemented in 2009 and continues to grow. Our emergency homeless shelter remains in our sixth street building and is the largest shelter for women and children in Stark County. In 1989, the YWCA opened the Ralston-Farrell Family Shelter, a four unit family shelter that was located in the north east end of Canton. The Ralston-Farrell Family Shelter closed in 2011 when the family shelter was moved to the Gateway House II with five units for families.