With Mother’s Day fast approaching, the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton is inviting local businesses and members of the community to join the YWCA Challenge for Mom and help women experiencing gender-based violence.
All proceeds from the fundraiser — which begins on Sunday, May 1st and runs until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8th — will directly support local resources for women and their children to safely escape gender-based violence, build upon their existing strength, and move forward in their lives.
“Violence against women has intensified,” says YWCA executive director Kim Dolan. “Locally, the need for YWCA shelter and support services for women and children increased by 30 per cent during the pandemic. We’ve also witnessed an alarming increase in the severity of abuse being inflicted.”
To support women experiencing gender-based violence, join the YWCA Challenge for Mom by visiting ywcapeterborough.org, where you can register as an individual or a team, set a fundraising goal, and invite your family, friends, and coworkers to show their support by making a donation online.
Challenge participants who raise $250 or more will be entered in a draw to win one of three prizes donated by six local businesses: a decor prize valued at $750, a foodie prize valued at $475, and a home care prize valued at $300.
Funds raised through the challenge will support YWCA programs that receive only partial government funding, including Crossroads Shelter, Haliburton Emergency Rural SafeSpace (HERS), Family Court Support, Transition Support, Nourish, and more.
“The YWCA Challenge for Mom is an opportunity to engage with members of our community and ensure that there is widespread knowledge of the resources that continue to be available at the YWCA for women and their children, while also working together to raise funds for core shelter and support services,” explains Ria Nicholson, the YWCA’s lead philanthropic advisor.
To learn more about how the pandemic has intensified violence against women, or to discuss possible corporate partnership opportunities, visit ywcapeterborough.org or contact Nicholson at 705-743-3526 x113 or rnicholson@ywcapeterborough.org.
The YWCA Challenge for Mom is sponsored by Ontario Insurance Network and Baker Tilly, along with local media sponsors kawarthaNOW, Move 99.7, Pure Country 105, Freq 90.5, PTBOTODAY.ca, Oldies 96.7, Peterborough This Week, and The Peterborough Examiner.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a media sponsor of the YWCA Challenge for Mom.
