In 1976, YWCA Fort Wayne (now YWCA Northeast Indiana) opened the doors of the first shelter for abused women in the state of Indiana. This came as a response to a community study that identified domestic violence as a major problem in the community. Unfortunately, nearly 50 years later, it still is. This is the legacy of our organization – recognizing what is needed and stepping in to help.
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on an issue that impacts families and communities everywhere. Nationally, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Locally, the number is 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 5 men.
Here at YWCA Northeast Indiana, we are on the front lines of this crisis. In 2024, 650 adults and 286 children came to us to find shelter, counseling, advocacy, and safety. Behind every number is a story of courage, resilience, and the hope for a brighter future.
We believe everyone deserves to live a life free from violence. Our comprehensive services—emergency shelter, legal advocacy, case management, and therapy—are designed to walk alongside survivors at every step of their healing journey.
This month, I invite you to join us in taking action. On October 30th, we will gather for Circle, our annual luncheon event. Together, we will raise critical dollars to sustain our domestic violence program and ensure that survivors in our community have the resources they need not just to survive, but to thrive.
Thank you for joining our circle of support and for standing with YWCA Northeast Indiana as we work toward a world without violence.
-Paula Hughes-Schuh (CEO, YWCA Northeast Indiana)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
DVAM is observed every October to raise awareness about domestic violence and support survivors. People are encouraged to wear purple, the color of awareness and peace, and participate in community events to advocate for survivors’ needs and promote prevention. The month also serves as a time to educate the public on healthy relationships and to highlight vital resources for those affected by abuse.
Learn more about the history of DVAM here.
YWCA Northeast Indiana hosts several events and activities that the community can participate in to support survivors and learn about our services. Keep reading to learn more and visit our website to download our 2025 toolkit!
Write a Will
Thank you to the attorneys from Barnes & Thornburg who will be onsite at YWCA on Tuesday, October 21st from 2-7pm to provide an opportunity for staff and community members to receive a free will! To participate, you are asked to include a gift to your favorite charity. We only have a few spaces left! Contact Jill Vaught at 260.424.4908 ext. 227 or jvaught@ywcanein.org to schedule your appointment.
“Everyone Knows Someone” Conference
The Mayor’s Commission on Domestic Violence, Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Allen County Family Domestic Violence Court, in partnership with Purdue University Fort Wayne, will be hosting the first annual conference on domestic violence on Tuesday, November 5th from 7:30am-5pm at PFW. This full-day event will bring together professionals, law enforcement, students, and community members to engage in meaningful conversations about domestic violence and its impact. The goal is to foster awareness, education, and collaboration to support survivors and prevent future abuse. Register here.
Fort4Fitness Charity Partner
YWCA is a proud Charity Partner with Fort4Fitness! Select YWCA when you register for the Winter Wonder Dash (November 14th and 15th) for part of your registration fee to benefit our clients. Register here!
Sponsor Shoutout
We would like to thank all of our generous Circle sponsors! Your sponsorship directly supports our life-saving domestic violence services! Check out our top level supporters below. Learn more about Circle here.
Domestic Violence Services
Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is a “pattern of coercive, controlling behavior” in an intimate relationship that can include physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and other forms of abuse.
YWCA Northeast Indiana helps adults and children experiencing domestic violence to understand the dynamics of abuse so that they are empowered to live a life free from violence.
YWCA offers comprehensive services for people experiencing domestic
- Crisis Shelter: Bonnie’s House
- 24/7 Crisis Line
- Community Based Advocacy
- Children & Nutrition Services
- Therapy Services
- Support Groups
- Housing Coordination
Statistics
In the first 6 months of this year…
- 179 adults and 131 children were sheltered at Bonnie’s House
- 9,262 bednights were provided at Bonnie’s House
- 291 individuals received community-based domestic
violence advocacy - 264 clients worked with an Advocate to create a safety plan
Success Story
A client came to YWCA when her daughter was twelve. While she was receiving services, the client enrolled in and graduated from college with the help of YWCA’s Goldstein Scholarship program, which provides scholarships to survivors of domestic violence working towards a four-year degree. This client recently reached out to share the long-term impact of YWCA in her life: “I just wanted to reach out and thank you for all of your help and support! I’m working as an ELL elementary teacher now, and I couldn’t have done it without you and the YWCA. You’ve really inspired me to empower those students the same way you empowered me. I’m also proud to say that this year my daughter will be graduating from high school with honors! We’ve applied to some colleges, and she’s been accepted!”
Triumph Studios Charity Event
October 11th at 10:15am and 11:30am at Triumph Studios
Triumph Studios is partnering with us to raise funds for our domestic violence shelter. There is a boxing class at 10:15am and a cycle class at 11:30am. The cost is $25 per class or $40 for both. 100% of the proceeds benefit YWCA’s domestic violence shelter. Purchase your tickets here.
Flowers on the River
October 16th from 6-7pm at the Wells Street Bridge.
Join us and community partners as we honor those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. RSVP to our Facebook event.
Circle Luncheon
October 30th from 11am-1pm at the Parkview Mirro Center.
Register now for our 29th annual event raising life saving dollars for our domestic violence services. This year we are focusing on children affected by domestic violence. Find more details and a link to register on our website.
Coffee & Conversations
November 6th from 8-9:30am at Ash Brokerage.
Empower to Empathize: Understanding the Survivor’s Journey. Join us as we continue the discussion that begins at Circle and dive deep into a conversation about domestic violence and the emotions of survivors and their children. Attending Circle is not a prerequisite for this event. Learn more and register for free.
Carmen Cumberland
President and CEO, Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc.
Amanda Framme
Senior Paralegal, Lincoln Financial
Noel Cerda
Educational Technologist, Ivy Tech Community College
Donna Masterson
Director of Residential Services, YWCA Northeast Indiana
Rachele Jordan
Owner, Anytime Fitness
Wear Purple on Fridays
Show your support for ending domestic violence by wearing purple every Friday in October. Share your photos and tag us on social media! #PurpleFridays #DVAM
Save 25% at Papa Johns
Support YWCA’s services and enjoy delicious pizza! Use coupon code YWCA25 to receive the discount.
Goldstein Family Scholarship Program
Our scholarship helps female survivors of domestic violence improve their self-sufficiency and quality of life by completing higher education. Learn more here.
Follow us on Social Media
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, to stay in the know of everything that’s going on at YWCA Northeast Indiana. We hope to connect with you soon!
Volunteer Opportunities
We have a variety of volunteer positions, as well as group service opportunities. Find info here.
Halloween Donations
We are in need of donations to help the children in our shelter celebrate Halloween! We are seeking face paint, masks, Halloween/fall crafts, individually wrapped candy, and costumes for all ages. All items must be new. Contact Emily at 260.424.4908 ext. 238 or emccorkle@ywcanein.org to coordinate drop-offs. Check out our website to see a list of additional items we currently need.
Donate
If you would like to make a difference at YWCA Northeast Indiana through a financial contribution, there are many ways to do so. Learn more here or go directly to our online donation portal.
