YW Walk for Change - YWCA West Central Michigan - Fundraising Event
Thursday, October 16, 2025
6:00 p.m.
Off Campus
Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students
OUR VISION:
A world free from violence.
OUR MISSION:
To eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace,
justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
WHY WE WALK:
We walk because domestic violence continues to harm individuals
and families in every corner of our community.
We walk to raise
awareness, to support survivors, and to help ensure that no one faces
violence alone.
Every dollar raised fuels critical services like emergency
shelter, therapy, legal advocacy, and crisis response.
This walk is a chance to come together in solidarity with
survivors, with each other, and with a shared commitment to building a
future free from violence.
FUELING IMPACT:
At the YWCA West Central Michigan, we believe that safety is a
human right and that every survivor deserves the chance to heal,
thrive, and be heard.
Funds raised through the Walk for Change go directly toward providing the comprehensive, survivor-centered services that are urgently needed in our community. These services don’t just meet the moment of crisis, they also support long-term safety, stability, and empowerment.
In the past year:
<àThere were a total of 10,849 nights of safety provided by
our emergency shelter.
=ÞWe answered over 4,000 calls through our 24/7 helpline.
dWe provided approximately 650 safe supervised visitations and exchanges for families impacted by violence.
<åWe provided 350 medical and forensic exams addressing sexual assault and domestic violence.
>2We provided over 1300 hours of crisis and legal advocacy.
<áWe provided nearly 50,000 safe nights across all of our housing programs.
HOW YOU CAN JOIN US:
=c Register for free to be part of our inaugural YW
Walk for Change on Thursday, October 16 at 6 PM.
= Start fundraising by making a personal
donation towards the walk, which will help ensure that our
services, like crisis intervention, safety shelter, forensic medical
exams, and counseling, stay accessible to survivors.
=e Create or join a fundraising team with friends,
family, or coworkers; tap into collective energy to raise focused support.
=ã Share this event on social media to help us grow
awareness and engagement. Invite people to be part of something historic.
THE WALK PATH
=_ We’ll begin at the YWCA’s main building, 25 Sheldon
Ave. SE, and walk together to the Helen Claytor
statue at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), honoring
the legacy of a trailblazer who fought for justice and equity.
The route is short, symbolic, and designed to allow everyone to participate.
WNeed more guidance? Download the YW Walk for Change toolkit below:
Download the Fundraising Toolkit
< MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT - BECOME A SPONSOR:
<â Businesses and community partners can amplify our reach by
sponsoring the YW Walk for Change. Sponsorships show a bold commitment
to a safer, more equitable community while fueling critical services
for survivors.
=I Interested in sponsoring? Contact Dana Romero
at [email protected] or
(616) 426-3719.
Download the Sponsorship Packet
Click here for additional information
Location Information
25 Sheldon Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
Contact Information
Dana Romero-Vogg
616.426.3719
Tags
centerforhealthandwellbeing domesticviolenceawareness domesticviolenceawarenessmonth violenceprevention
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This event was added to the calendar by Heather Alberda (alberdhe@gvsu.edu) on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 and was last updated on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 11:38 a.m.