United Medical Calls for Support to Reach YWCA Delaware Resilience Fund Goal
News related to:YWCA Delaware · 2 min read
WILMINGTON, DE, October 20, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- United Medical LLC is calling on individuals, businesses, and community partners to help YWCA Delaware reach its $1.5 million Resilience Fund goal. The campaign, chaired by Kemal Erkan, CEO and founder of United Medical LLC, has raised $850,000, leaving $650,000 to be secured by March 2027. This fund is crucial to protect essential services for women and families across Delaware.
The event honored Kemal Erkan with the Dorothy Height Leadership Award, recognizing his commitment to advancing equity, human dignity, and opportunity. This award underscores Erkan's leadership as chair of the Resilience Fund Advisory Committee and his ongoing support of YWCA Delaware's mission.
The Resilience Fund is a one-time special campaign designed to help YWCA Delaware sustain critical services amid potential funding uncertainties. These services include safe housing, 24/7 support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking, financial counseling, and youth development programs. Much of YWCA Delaware's housing and crisis intervention work relies on federal support, making a financial safeguard essential to reduce the risk of service disruptions.
The fund will be managed by the Delaware Community Foundation, releasing resources only with YWCA Board approval when significant funding gaps arise. This structure is intended to help YWCA Delaware sustain services for current clients while preparing to respond to growing community needs.
The YWCA Delaware programs reached 9,594 individuals in 2025, underscoring the critical role of the Resilience Fund in maintaining these vital services. The fund's success will ensure that YWCA Delaware can continue to support women and families in Delaware, providing the necessary resources and assistance during times of crisis.
The Celebration Breakfast also introduced The Story Exchange, an interactive experience connecting guests with stories of resilience and the people and partnerships behind YWCA Delaware's work. Honorary co-chairs Gemma Lowery of ChristianaCare and Katherine S. Ward, Executive Director of the Delaware Press Association, helped represent this year's focus on leadership, service, and intergenerational impact.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield was a primary sponsor of The Story Exchange. Tim Vessel, Market Segment President of Highmark Delaware and a Resilience Fund Committee member, works with YWCA Delaware leadership to support funding and advocacy for women and families. Other sponsors included 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.
The campaign seeks to protect the services that reach thousands of Delawareans. In 2025, 9,594 individuals participated in YWCA Delaware's programs statewide. The Resilience Fund is a testament to the community's commitment to supporting essential services and ensuring that YWCA Delaware can continue to make a difference in the lives of women and families in Delaware.