As we reflect on the Thanksgiving season, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of our members for your continued support of the YWCA of Pekin. This year, we made a monumental improvement to our facility. Due to your generous support, we were able to revamp our two main parking lots. Thank you for believing in the YWCA of Pekin enough to invest in this. This improvement was fully funded by our members, and everyone benefits from your contribution.

The YWCA of Pekin currently has 62 incredible staff members. I am thankful for our staff that does an incredible job of holding up each role needed to present a healthy and vibrant YWCA of Pekin to our community. 

We were able to introduce a new program to our facility and community this year, thanks to a grant from the Secretary of State for Family Literacy. Our Coalition for Equality hosted several great events this year, as well as serving over 250 snack packs per week to the area students. Land Fitness has enjoyed an influx of instructors and new classes this year, as well as a few new pieces of equipment in the Cardio Room. We were able to make enormous improvements in the pool. The entire pool has been regrouted, and this was quite an undertaking, but with the dedication of our staff, we were able to accomplish this, and it is magnificent. Not only does it improve the look, but more importantly, it improves the functionality of the pool. Thanks to a supporting grant from United Way of Pekin, we are offering more aquatics classes now than we have in recent years. 

The Adult Literacy program is continuing to expand its reach, and you will see Anna throughout the community sharing the amazing work they are doing with GED students, Adult Basic Education learners, and English as an Additional Language learners (we are always looking for more volunteer tutors!). 

Childcare is continuing to improve its facilities thanks to a grant from the Heart of Illinois United Way that provided several musical stimulants to our classrooms, as well as improvements coming to our playground thanks to the Brad Campbell Memorial Foundation. 

Not only do our members continue to show up and support us, and bring their friends to enjoy our facility, but the community continues to show up and support us. I thank each and every one of you who have contributed to our success over the last 97 years. Most of all, I am grateful that I have been entrusted to guide this organization for this season. 

Wishing you all the very best holiday season this year!