Intermountain Press Release

Salt Lake City —As part of the YWCA's annual "Week Without Violence" Campaign, the YWCA of Salt Lake City announced a new partnership with Intermountain Healthcare today that includes a $2 million donation from the community-based, nonprofit healthcare provider.

The money will go to the YWCA's capital campaign to fund a phase 1 of the YWCA's campus master plan. The plan calls for a new residence for women and children and center for families. The new residence will provide a safe and healing place for women and children whoa re homeless as a result of family violence. The new residence will allow the YWCA to expand their bed capacity by 50 percent.

"There is a clear connection between Intermountain Healthcare's commitment to providing support that cultivates healthy families and the physical and mental health services provided by the YWCA to victims of domestic violence," said Rebecca Chavez-Houck, director of community affairs for Centro de la Familia. Houck serves on the board of Intermountain Healthcare and the YWCA.

Domestic violence is a serious health issue, with significant psychological, financial and health related costs. One study found that nearly 10 percent of women admitted to the emergency room of Intermountain's LDS Hospital were there as a result of domestic violence. And Primary Children's Medical Center treats hundreds of children every year who are the victims of abuse.

"Prevention and intervention services provided by YWCA now and into the future via the organization's expanded campus will reduce the unfortunate numbers of domestic violence cases that impact our health system," Houck said. "Intermountain Healthcare sees our contribution today as an investment in the healing that must be readily available for wounded children and women in crisis who live in our community. And we invite others to join us in making the YWCAs vision a reality."

Other speakers included:

• Anne Burkholder, YWCA Chief Executive Officer
• Hildegard Koenig, Domestic Violence Survivor and YWCA Educator
• Julie Bradshaw, Intermountain Healthcare's Primary Children's Medical Center
• Dr. Todd Allen, Intermountain Healthcare's LDS Hospital, Emergency Room