The capital campaign continues for the YWCA Bradford, which will be able to use the funding to enhance and expand its services to residents of McKean County.

The YWCA launched a community capital campaign in January 2017 and announced its plans to renovate the former Second Ward Elementary School. The Congress Street property will serve as the YWCA’s new services and program center along with adjacent domestic violence and homeless shelters.

The Kiwanis Club of Bradford presented a $1,000 gift to the campaign.

“We see the role of the YWCA as critical to the needs and well-being of Bradford,” said Randy Durner, Kiwanis Club president. “By contributing to the YWCA Capital Campaign, the Kiwanis Club of Bradford is doing its part to help children, the family unit and the community by enabling the YWCA to better serve its clients through an improved facility.”

Durner said the Kiwanis Club chose to support the YWCA because of the essential services that it provides.

“The Kiwanis Club felt it was appropriate to make a significant investment to this project to help ensure that the YWCA will have the facility it needs to provide the fullest services possible to the community.”

Vanessa Castano, YWCA executive director, said, “We continue to be humbled by the generosity bestowed upon us. While the work we do can be emotionally taxing, it is so refreshing to know that we have the support of McKean County and its many groups and clubs.  We have service recipients from throughout the county, and as the only provider of homeless shelter services and domestic and sexual violence services, the importance of this support cannot be understated.”

“Our campaign continues to march forward, as does our design process,” Castano said. “Thanks to the Kiwanis Club for your ongoing support of YW services.”