YWCA Orange County

07/30/2026

The YWCA OC Scholarship Program was created over twenty‑five years ago through Ruth Bradley Thurmond’s generous legacy gift. Her support helps women returning to college especially single parents and re‑entry students pursue and complete their degrees. The program now serves women at Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College, expanded through additional scholarships from Bill McGarvey and Shirley Bloom. Today, it also supports women in underrepresented STEM fields and includes international students, continuing its mission to open educational opportunities for women.

We like to show our appreciation to our benefactors for their commitment to helping Fullerton College and Cal State Fullerton students in their future.

07/29/2026

Empowering youth, building futures. 🚀
Our YES Program is helping young people gain skills, confidence, and career opportunities. Spread the word and help us uplift our community!

07/27/2026

Meet our 2026 Summer Interns!!!

Through their dedication, hard work, and a passion for learning, our interns are gaining valuable career experience while making a meaningful impact every day. From building professional skills to supporting important programs and events, they're helping create positive change, and we're proud to be part of their journey.

Thank you for your commitment, enthusiasm, and the unique perspective you bring to our team. We can't wait to see all that you'll accomplish!

👏Help us celebrate our amazing intern by leaving a word of encouragement in the comments!

07/23/2026

The YWCA OC Scholarship Program is designed to uplift and inspire local women to stay in school. Our Scholarship Program was established more than twenty-five years
ago through the vision and generosity of Ruth Bradley Thurmond and has helped provide much needed education support to local schools. The YWCA recognizes the significant barriers many women, in our community, face in completing their college degrees. Our goal is to help as many women as possible pursue and complete their degrees.

We invite you to attend our annual scholarship brunch and help us to create meaningful educational opportunities for women attending California State University, Fullerton and Fullerton College.

Date/Time:
August 15, 2026 at 10:30 A.M.

Location:
Fullerton Elks Lodge
1400 Elks View Ln.
Fullerton, CA 92835

Event ticket: $35

Contact [email protected] for event tickets.

07/22/2026

Don't Miss Out!

The YWCA OC Scholarship program was established more than twenty-five years
ago through the vision and generosity of Ruth Bradley Thurmond. As a longtime member of the YWCA, Thurmond recognized the significant barriers many women face when returning to college after raising families or navigating higher education as single parents.

Inspired by these experiences, she made a transformative legacy gift to establish an undergraduate re-entry scholarship that has helped countless women pursue and complete their degrees.

The Thurmond Scholarship continues to create meaningful educational opportunities for women at California State University, Fullerton and Fullerton College. Four other scholarships were added by Fullertonians Bill McGarvey and Shirley Bloom.

The scholarship program has increased its impact by supporting diversity and equity initiatives and providing opportunities, to women from all walks of life, pursuing careers in underrepresented Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

07/21/2026

Gowns needed! Help support the community and donate dresses

07/04/2026

For more than 165 of America’s 250 years, YWCA has been part of our country's story. Since 1858, we have stood at the intersection of racial and gender justice, helping shape a nation still striving to live up to its promise. Our history is not separate from America’s; it is woven into it.
From our earliest days, YWCA leaders have helped define what progress looks like in practice. Women like Rosetta Evelyn Lawson, who created safe housing for Black women shut out by segregation; Grace Hoadley Dodge, who unified a fragmented movement into a national force rooted in dignity and opportunity for working women; Julia Morgan, the architect who made YWCA’s mission tangible in daily life; and Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, who pushed YWCA and the country toward a deeper commitment to racial justice, ensuring that equality was not aspirational, but actionable.

07/01/2026

Mark Your Calendar! For more information, contact [email protected]

06/30/2026

As we wrap up June, we're grateful for the opportunity to celebrate love, identity, freedom, and progress. Throughout Pride Month, we honored the strength and voices of the LGBTQ+ community, and on Juneteenth, we reflected on the significance of freedom and the ongoing pursuit of racial justice.

Thank you to everyone who participated, learned, celebrated, and stood alongside us this month. Let's continue creating spaces where every person feels seen, valued, and supported all year long. 🌈✊🏾

05/02/2026