One of Evanston’s longest-serving community service organizations has changed its name, underlining that its focus is on serving the city’s youth—and that you don’t need to be a mother or live in the northern part of the city to join in and get involved.
The North End Mothers’ Club, which has been serving Evanston’s youth for more than a century, is now officially known as Women for Evanston Youth (WEY).
The name change, voted on this winter by the group’s membership, reflects more than just a modernization for the 21st century – it is an affirmation of the organization’s spirit and purpose after more than 100 years serving Evanston’s youth and supporting community service.
“We are so excited to introduce a new name that more completely telegraphs our inclusive nature and clear service focus,” says WEY President Leslie Sevcik.
The organization traces its history back to the spring of 1911 when a group of Evanston women gathered together with a common purpose – to support and benefit local children and youth – and formed a charter with that mission at its forefront.
More than a century later and with a modern and inclusive identity as Women for Evanston Youth, the group’s mission remains true: to provide educational scholarships, assist worthy students, aid educational institutions, civic enterprises and undertakings, and further the development of friendly community services for the benefit of youth.
“WEY has been in existence for more than 100 years, and in a recent partnership with the YWCA of Evanston raising funds for the Women’s Shelter, we were inspired by the all-female YWCA board,” says Elizabeth Bald, past president and longtime WEY board member. “Our members are powerful, determined and dedicated women who pride themselves in helping our community through grant-giving on an annual basis. Evanston’s youth-based organizations are constantly growing and our policy chairs are always inspired and overwhelmed with the plentiful requests that arrive each year. This is our inspiration for all we do as an organization.”
While the name has changed, WEY’s mission has not. Most of the projects WEY has sponsored through the years in health, recreation, safety and education have become established through law or custom. WEY has continued to evolve, following the precepts of those foresighted, dedicated women who founded the organization to provide funding for Evanston’s youth and the non-profit groups that support them.
Whether in fundraising for the YWCA, funding scholarships at ETHS, providing grants for non-profits, leading the Fourth of July Parade, hosting Fortnightly dances for middle-schoolers, or volunteering at ESCCA, Women for Evanston Youth is woven into the community. The group’s very first meeting in 1911 saw members encourage school instruction in music appreciation. By 1922, ambitions had grown and the group planned and organized Evanston’s first-ever Fourth of July parade and fireworks. In 1953, the organization established scholarship funds at ETHS. Among the groups WEY has supported with grants as recently as 2020 are the ETHS Special Ed Department, EISMA, FAAM, Girls Play Sports, Young Black Lit, The Moran Center, Open Studio Project, Girl Scouts, Northlight Theatre, Peer Services and TED Fund. In 2020 WEY also underwrote the design and supply of the Teen Room at the YWCA Women’s Shelter and funded a multiyear gift to Robert Crown Community Center.
“The idea of changing our name has been talked about for many years,” said Bald. “We are very proud of our members who have pushed and guided this much-needed change to not only finally explain who we are and what we do, but also to encourage all women of Evanston to come join our cause and have fun while helping Evanston’s youth. We desire to double our membership with this name change. We welcome you to come join Women for Evanston Youth.”
Submitted by Women for Evanston Youth