United Medical LLC is spearheading a community-wide appeal to help YWCA Delaware reach its $1.5 million Resilience Fund goal, with $850,000 already raised and $650,000 remaining to be secured by March 2027. The fund is designed to safeguard critical services for women and families across Delaware, including safe housing, 24/7 support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking, financial counseling, and youth development programming.
The announcement follows YWCA Delaware’s October 7th Celebration Breakfast at DuPont Country Club, where the theme “Generation to Generation, Empowering Every Story” underscored the organization’s intergenerational impact. During the event, Kemal Erkan, CEO and founder of United Medical LLC and chair of the Resilience Fund Advisory Committee, was honored with the Dorothy Height Leadership Award for his commitment to equity, human dignity, and opportunity.
Erkan emphasized the urgency of the campaign, stating, “Reaching $850,000 reflects a meaningful commitment from this community, but the remaining $650,000 is critical. We have an opportunity to prepare before a funding gap becomes a crisis for the people who depend on these services.” The Resilience Fund is a one-time special campaign intended to sustain YWCA Delaware’s work amid uncertainty in nonprofit funding, particularly because much of its housing and crisis intervention relies on federal support.
Melissa Gonville, CEO of YWCA Delaware, noted, “For someone seeking safety or a family working to regain stability, reliable support can make all the difference. The Resilience Fund is about protecting that continuity.” Managed by the Delaware Community Foundation, the fund will release resources only with YWCA Board approval when significant funding gaps arise, ensuring services continue for current clients while preparing for growing community needs. In 2025, 9,594 individuals participated in YWCA Delaware’s programs statewide.
The campaign has garnered support from various sponsors, including Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, which was a primary sponsor of The Story Exchange, an interactive experience introduced at the breakfast to connect guests with stories of resilience. Other sponsors include Delaware First Health, J.P. Morgan Chase, Pennoni, Barbacane Thornton & Company, Corporation Service Company (CSC), Delaware Community Foundation, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospitals, New Castle County, and TD Bank.
United Medical encourages individuals, businesses, and community partners to contribute to the remaining $650,000. To give or learn more, visit www.ywcade.org/resilience-fund. For more information about United Medical, visit www.umusa.net.
