YWCA Fort Worth and Tarrant County becomes the Center for Transforming Lives

Fort Worth, Texas (MMD Newswire) October 16, 2015 — The YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County’s name is changing to the Center for Transforming Lives in an effort to more clearly articulate the non-profit’s local mission of breaking the cycle of poverty for women and their families. The organization’s 21-member Board of Directors voted for the name change during the group’s September board meeting.

“We adopted a new name but are still providing the same critical services such as homeless programs and childcare to our community,” said Board Chairwoman Lisa Grady. “This name change more accurately reflects the hands-on services we provide to women and children in poverty.”

Since 1907, the YWCA has provided anti-poverty programs in Fort Worth and surrounding communities. Early programs included housing, a cafeteria and an employment bureau to help women find jobs. Today, the organization still operates homeless programs for women and families, serving approximately 443 annually. Additionally, the organization provides early childhood education programs for homeless and low-income families and a financial empowerment program that includes one-on-one coaching at no cost to participants.

While quietly working to directly address the needs of families struggling in poverty, the organization itself has also struggled with general awareness and confusion with other social service agencies, specifically the YMCA.

With the new name, the agency’s staff and Board of Directors hope to increase community awareness. Increased awareness means more financial support. With more support, the Center for Transforming Lives can serve more clients.

“More than 94,000 women and 126,000 children live in poverty in Tarrant County today,” explained Chief Executive Director Carol Klocek. “Our phone rings all day from mothers looking for help – we need to do more. In the last 30 days, we had to turn away 262 women looking for shelter. With help from the community, we can grow. We must grow to meet the demand.”

The Center for Transforming Lives (formerly the YWCA) will continue providing help to women and their families by moving them from poverty to independence through housing stability, affordable high-quality child care and financial empowerment services.

The Center for Transforming Lives reflects what we do, it reflects who we are, and it tells our essential story. It’s the stories of our women and children and their transformation as they break the cycle of poverty,” said Grady.

Contact: Trish Rodriguez Chief Development & Marketing Officer O: 817-484-1546 C: 817-996-7330

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