New YWCA in East Hamilton to be renamed after local family

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Published March 6, 2020 at 4:26 pm

The rebuilt YWCA on Ottawa Street will be getting a new name thanks to a generous donation from a local family.

The rebuilt YWCA on Ottawa Street will be getting a new name thanks to a generous donation from a local family.

YWCA Hamilton announced Thursday (March 5) that when the building is complete, it will be renamed The Putman Family YWCA.

The Putman family founded the Ancaster-based business Everest Toys.

On the YWCA website, the organization says that the Putman’s came to them after reading about the financial struggles of Carole Anne’s place, the emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness in Hamilton.

The Putman’s appeared at Thursday night’s Women of Distinction Awards to announce the $1 million donation to the YWCA organization.

“YWCA Hamilton has been at the forefront of addressing the affordable housing crisis in Hamilton,” said Denise Christopherson, CEO YWCA Hamilton.

“The Putman family contribution will significantly support YWCA Hamilton’s efforts to eradicate women’s homelessness.”

Bob Putman and his wife Karen launched Everest Toys in 1992, which is now helmed by their son Doug.

“We wanted to be part of the solution,” Doug said in the announcement on the YWCA website.

The new Ottawa Street YWCA Hamilton looks to address the city’s housing crisis by creating 50 affordable housing units for women and children – 15 of those units designated for women living with developmental disabilities – in the Crown Point neighbourhood.

The new building will also incorporate a multifunctional seniors centre with a dedicated kitchen on the ground floor. And the exterior of the building will be flanked by trees and other greenery, including a community garden.

Completion of the Ottawa Street YWCA is slated for December 2020.

Rendering courtesy YWCA Hamilton’s Facebook

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