YWCA-SGV: Fostering a Just and Peaceful World

Serving a client whose sole purpose is serving and supporting others gives new meaning to our role as a bank. The YWCA of San Gabriel Valley (YWCA-SGV) has the defined mission “to eliminate racism, empower women and communities while promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.”

For a sense of the good work that gets done under that broad umbrella, consider this: in 2020 the YWCA-SGV delivered 898,925 meals to seniors and served 216,000 senior clients. The organization also responded that year to more than 10,000 domestic violence helpline calls and provided legal services for more than 300 domestic violence survivors. And that’s just a slice of what they do.

Although women continue to be a primary focus, many of the organization’s services are gender-neutral and open to all as the YWCA-SGV serves diverse communities, including neglected and vulnerable populations. The organization has been a multi-service community resource in Southern California since 1935, and today advocates for affordable housing and racial justice, provides mental health resources and support, offers personal development education, and conducts one of the largest senior service programs in Los Angeles County.

In early 2022, we helped the organization expand services to the 40-plus cities and towns throughout the San Gabriel Valley. We funded the owner-occupied commercial real estate loan for their new headquarters in Covina, Calif.

“It felt good to be able to provide the loan,” said our Southern California Commercial Relationship Manager Michael Hoover, who worked with YWCA-SGV Chief Executive Officer Debra Ward and others at the organization. “They provide something the community really needs and benefits from. Serving the YWCA-SGV reminds me of why I’m a banker.”

Learn more about this client and their mission at the YWCA-SGV website.