October 2024 Chamber Champion
YWCA of Westmoreland County

This month, we proudly feature the YWCA Westmoreland County, led by the dedicated Executive Director Carol Hudock Palcic, as our Non-Profit of the Month. Since its founding, the YWCA has been a cornerstone in our community, empowering women and girls through a wide range of transformative programs and services. Carol Palcic took on the role of Executive Director in 2021, during a time of financial uncertainty for the organization. "I accepted this as a personal challenge, and we are now in year three and continue to move forward," Palcic shares. Under her leadership, the YWCA has not only stabilized but continues to thrive, maintaining its vital mission.

In 2024, the YWCA will celebrate its 65th anniversary, marking decades of commitment to eliminating racism, empowering women, and fostering a diverse and inclusive community. The YWCA Westmoreland County is one of 194 YWCA associations across the United States, continuing to be a force for positive change. Under Palcic’s stewardship, the YWCA has expanded its reach to address key issues affecting women today. Programs in technology education, literacy through English as a Second Language, and economic empowerment services such as the Thrift Shop, PA Workwear, and Working Women’s Closet have all helped local women achieve greater self-sufficiency. The organization also fosters leadership and teamwork through its girls’ field hockey program and robotics initiatives for middle schoolers.

In 2023, the YWCA Westmoreland County served over 16,000 individuals, a testament to its growing influence and ongoing collaboration with other nonprofits to broaden its impact.

Palcic, a lifelong Greensburg native, is no stranger to leadership. She currently serves as the mayor of Southwest Greensburg, becoming the first woman to hold the role in 2018. In addition to her service at the YWCA, she has chaired the annual Greensburg Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K for the past 29 years, an event that draws over 2,500 participants. "I am blessed to have an amazing staff, and each one of them takes enormous pride in their work — making sure anyone who needs services is receiving them," says Palcic, whose hands-on approach ensures that the YWCA remains a trusted and vital resource in the community.

The YWCA’s legacy began with a single letter in 1957, written by Reta Kuyat, a former Johnstown YWCA member who sought to start a YWCA in Greensburg. By 1959, the group had grown to include a board of directors, a constitution, and a charter, officially launching the YWCA Westmoreland County. Today, the YWCA’s headquarters remain at 424 N. Main Street in Greensburg, where it continues to serve as a beacon of empowerment, growth, and positive change. With over six decades of service to the community, the YWCA Westmoreland County is an enduring pillar of support and progress for women and families.

We congratulate Carol Palcic and her team for their unwavering dedication to promoting social justice, empowering women, and creating lasting impact in Westmoreland County. We are honored to recognize the YWCA as our Non-Profit of the Month!