Our History

Serving the community for over 115 years

YWCA is the nation's oldest and largest women's multicultural membership organization, reaching women at 300 locations in the United States and in 109 countries. Its mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

YWCA Tri-County Area

YWCA Tri-County Area was founded as YWCA of Pottstown in a two-story frame building in 1908. Its initial focus was to provide a safe haven for young girls and women who were homeless, or who had come to Pottstown to work in the town's factories. After moving in 1913 to its current location at 315 King Street, YWCA continued to house women and girls as both permanent and transient residents, fed hungry families, and added educational programs in domestic and language arts, home nursing, and public speaking; recreational leagues in basketball, roller skating and gymnastics; and special interest clubs and networking for girls and women in the workforce. Over the years, services expanded and adapted to meet the changing needs of girls and women in the community. Maternal health and well-baby clinics appeared, summer camps were added for girls, and lecture series hosted speakers from around the world.

In 1946 YWCA nationally began working for racial justice throughout the entire organization, adopting an "interracial charter" that established that "wherever there is injustice on the basis of race, whether in the community, the nation, or the world, our protest must be clear and our labor for its removal, vigorous, and steady." That work culminated in the addition of the "elimination of racism" to the mission statement in 1970.

Today, YWCA Tri-County Area remains a leader in advocating for girls, women, and families, providing quality programs and services designed to support and enrich the community. Direct service programming includes early childhood education, before- and after-school enrichment, youth empowerment, adult education, workforce development, and homelessness prevention. Mission-based advocacy efforts raise awareness, offer issue education, and build social capital around women's empowerment, racial and social justice, and safe and healthy communities.

The History of the ywca

1858

YWCA, the United States’ first women’s organization, is formed as the “Ladies Christian Association” in New York. 1858

1859

YWCA name first used in Boston.

1908

Fifty women meet at the First Presbyterian Church to launch a Pottstown association of the Young Women’s Christian Association. Membership was $1. Its headquarters were at 16 S. Franklin St.

1909

YW begins sheltering girls who are homeless.

1913

YWCA of Pottstown is formally chartered and incorporated. The organization purchases the Lyman Beecher home at 315 King St. The 1913-14 program included classes in singing, reading, physical fitness, social events, and more.

1916

The first of several “industrial clubs”, social and educational clubs aimed at girls and women who worked in Pottstown’s factories, forms. Members take part in cooking, sewing, and dramatics classes at the YW, and recreation on the factory grounds during their lunch break.

1918

A Girl Reserves group, founded by YWCA USA nationwide to help girls ages 12-18 “develop a well-balanced personality, grow physically and take on social responsibility”, forms in Pottstown.

1925

Social dancing classes for boys and girls begin.

YWCA Retirement Fund Inc. established

1928

166 women and girls stayed at the YW over the year, with 18 of them as permanent residents.

1932

YW establishes a “Colored Girls Club” and a “Mothers Club for Colored Women.”

1942

YW gets behind the war effort, hosting recruiters for the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), and organizes a “Victory Garden Day” to encourage backyard gardening.

1952

YW begins an “Americanization Class,” a 10-week course for new U.S. residents teaching English conversation, reading and writing, and U.S. history and government.

1970

YWCA USA adopts as part of its mission: To eliminate racism wherever it exists and by any means necessary.

1977

Parent training workshops begin for teen mothers, helping them develop skills in communication and decision making. Mommy and Me classes offer activities for women and their preschool children.

1988

YW launches its first preschool program.

1990

YW joins 10 other community organizations in persuading people to stay away from a Ku Klux Klan parade scheduled to ride through Boyertown.

2007

YWCA of Pottstown is re-incorporated as YWCA Tri-County Area to reflect its service to communities in Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties.

2008

100 Years of Service!

Name change to YWCA Tri-County Area

2009

YWCA USA adopts its mission statement: YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

2015

YWCA USA Inc. renamed to remove age, gender, and religious affiliation.

2016

Purchase of 300 King St.

2023

Purchase of 724 N Adams St. and 301 King St.

- PRESENT -

YWCA continues to grow and support women, children and families in Berks, Montgomery, and Chester counties.

Pennsylvania CareerLink
Philabundance
Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness (PEAK)
Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities
Pottstown NAACP
Pottstown Trauma-Informed Community Connection (PTIIC)
Pottstown workforce development task force
Salvation Army
Tri-County Area school districts
Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce,
TriCounty Community Network
The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Local & County Governments