Thanks to Ina Lou and Wayne Brownlee’s critical timing of this generous gift, the YWCA is able to move forward with the greater scale of the expansion project: 35 new self-contained and multi-bedroom units – giving a place and time for women and their families to regroup and rebuild.

“We are investing in the YWCA Saskatoon because we want to help change lives in the community,” said Ina Lou Brownlee. “We hope this gift will inspire others to help more women and children.”

The Brownlee Family Foundation gift means the YWCA Saskatoon can more than double our capacity so we can welcome more women and children in their time of need.

Driven by the belief that a community is strengthened and enlarged when all people have what they need to survive and thrive, Olivia and Greg have demonstrated a long history of helping others. Learning about the 4,235 women and children turned away at the YWCA Saskatoon last year, Olivia and Greg saw an opportunity to make a difference, one woman at a time: their family and PIC Investment Group are contributing a total of $1,000,000 to the Hope Lives Here Campaign.

“We witness the sober reality for so many women and children in the community,” said Olivia. “The YWCA’s programs have proven themselves effective, and are unfortunately, equally proven to be required for a long time. There is no speculation or uncertainty about the need for this expansion project.”

In recognition of Olivia and Greg’s commitment to the YWCA Saskatoon Hope Lives Here Campaign, five new family units in the Crisis Shelter & Residence expansion will be named: one for the Yuel Family and four others in honor of the women in their family: Olivia, Sophia, Grace and Kailey.

Olivia and Greg gave significant thought to the naming. “We imagined an everyday scenario at the YWCA: a woman enters a room after getting herself out of a really bad situation,” said Olivia. “The name on the door of her room is a real person, and the woman knows that someone cares about her, is supporting her, and is cheering for her. Now, she is safe. That’s it. One woman at a time. Each woman, with the guts and determination to do the work, gets herself to a better place.”

When the Yuels toured the YWCA, they also learned about the YWCA Saskatoon’s Employment and Learning Centre, which offers different programs so people can learn and build employable skills, facilitating a new life through employability and the stability that an education and a job provide.

In recognition of the Yuels’ company, PIC Investment Group, one of the new Employment & Learning Classrooms will be named.

“We are drawn to how the YWCA not only provides a safe place for women to sleep so they feel protected in the moment, but also support for a path to employment through the Employment & Learning Centre; they can see a future where they are in control of their lives,” said Greg.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Olivia, Greg Yuel and family, and to PIC, for their generous support which plays a crucial role in maintaining a thriving sense of hope within the YWCA Saskatoon.

YWCA Saskatoon is extending a heartfelt thank you to Jerry and Tina Grandey and Family for their extremely generous $500,000 gift to our Hope Lives Here campaign.

Motivated by a strong desire to give back to a community that has welcomed and supported them so generously, the Grandey Family saw the desperate need for safe, supportive, empathetic space and refuge for women in need. With their generous gift they hope to contribute to helping abuse victims experience personal growth through reducing trauma stress and assisting with development of life skills and vocational training.

“Providing a welcoming and safe refuge for women and children is a critical need in our community,” say Jerry and Tina Grandey. “Our support will help, but the demand for space means the challenge is never done.”

The Grandey Family’s transformational gift will contribute directly to helping YWCA Saskatoon accomplish our three main campaign priorities of increasing our shelter and transitional housing capacity to 71-beds with 35 new larger units to accommodate women and their children, repairing and renovating critical aspects of our current facilities and expanding and improving our Employment and Learning Centre to continue assisting clients in obtaining sustainable employment.

We are so grateful for their support.

BHP believes success is driven by creating lasting mutual benefit through working in partnership with the communities they operate in to achieve long-term social, environmental and economic outcomes. This belief has driven BHP to contribute over $50 million in social community investments since 2015. BHP is honoured to help support YWCA Saskatoon’s critical work through a transformational $500,000 donation to Hope Lives Here.

“The YWCA Saskatoon is providing critical work that creates positive and lasting impact for so many in our city,” said Karina Gistelinck, Asset President of BHP Potash. “Access to training and courses opens doors and a new world of opportunity and the YWCA is playing an important role in bringing access to people when it is most needed.”

BHP is committed to building an operational workforce that reflects the communities they are part of through maintaining gender balance and achieving a target of 20% Indigenous representation. YWCA Saskatoon programs, like Women in the Trades, contribute to this commitment and to BHP’s value pillars of fostering thriving communities and a future ready workforce. They also reflect the company’s strategy of delivering long-term value and return through their purpose of bringing people and resources together to build a better world.

BHP has a long-standing relationship with YWCA Saskatoon through employee volunteering and sponsorship of the annual Women of Distinction Awards and is honoured to be part of building a healthier, more secure future for Saskatoon.

At MNP, the commitment to building a strong community is deeply ingrained in their values. Situated in the heart of Saskatoon, the MNP Saskatoon office is comprised of over 300 partners and team members.

Understanding the heartbreak of turning away those in need due to lack of capacity, the MNP team felt a deep calling to support vulnerable members of their community through the Hope Lives Here campaign.

“We are proud to support this community initiative that provides more than a safe space. The YWCA offers crucial education and training as part of the expansion, which will have a cascade of positive benefits both now and in the future,” shared Byron Mack, Regional Managing Partner.

Their $100,000 donation to the Hope Lives Here Campaign is channeled through their MNP Partner Fund, skillfully administered by the Saskatoon Community Foundation. This fund allows the MNP Saskatoon Partnership group to pool personal dollars in support of impactful projects, enhancing the quality of life for Saskatoon residents and beyond.

All team members are committed to making a meaningful impact, and found resonance with the Hope Lives Here Campaign,

Recently, a group of MNP team members toured the YWCA shelter & residence, gaining profound insights into the campaign and its transformative impact. Inspired by this experience, they organized several fundraisers within their office, and raised an additional $12,870.00. This collective effort brought their total commitment to the campaign to $112, 870.00.

In recognition of MNP’s commitment to the YWCA Saskatoon’s mission, the YWCA Study/Library in the new expansion will be named in honour of MNP. This designation stands as a powerful testament to the positive influence MNP has had on the well-being of women and children in our community.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and for assisting us in maintaining a vibrant sense of hope here at the YWCA Saskatoon.

Jacqueline and David are driven by a shared service-based mindset consistently seeking ways to give back to their community. The desire to make a substantial contribution simmered within them but they were uncertain about how or where to direct it. It was then that they learned of the YWCA Saskatoon Hope Lives Here campaign. They delved into the organization’s mission and realized that this was the opportunity they had been seeking.

Their commitment to supporting charities focused on improving the lives of women and children was unwavering, and the YWCA aligns perfectly with their values. As their city continues to grow, Jacqueline and David recognize the pressing need for resources, amenities and programming for vulnerable populations.

What resonated deeply with Jacqueline and David was the YWCA Saskatoon’s commitment to extended support for women, empowering these women to rebuild their lives after escaping perilous situations.

“We strongly support the YWCA Saskatoon and the long-term support they provide to women leaving harmful environments,” added Jacqueline. “It is truly inspiring to see the YWCA’s focus on providing women with opportunities for education and employment. The YWCA excels in transforming lives, for both women and their children.”

Jacqueline and David believe that the act of giving has a way of returning in miraculous ways. Their lives have continually expanded because of this attitude. They wholeheartedly believe that miracles can happen when organizations unite for a common cause. They are proud to support the vital and meaningful work carried out by the YWCA in their community. Jacqueline and David eagerly anticipate the day when the space will be unveiled – a symbol of hope and renewal for countless women and children – and they look forward to witnessing a new era for the YWCA

In recognition of the Conway’s commitment to the YWCA Saskatoon Hope Lives Here Campaign, and as a tribute, two new units in the Crisis Shelter & Residence expansion will be dedicated to the mothers of Jacqueline and David:

In Honour of Nora Conway                                         In Honour of Anita Romanoff

This will serve as a lasting testament to the positive impact the Conway’s and their mothers have had on the women and children in our community.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jacqueline and David for their generous support which plays a crucial role in maintaining a thriving sense of hope within the YWCA Saskatoon.