“Whether it's Breedlove…or sexual assault services...my contribution is going to make a difference.”

- Kyra Lovely, Monthly Donor since 2024

Meet Our Monthly Donors

  • Originally from St. Louis and a longtime Chicagoan, Jenise has built a career in marketing at iHeart Media. But beyond her remarkable professional life, she has built a personal legacy defined by compassion, resilience, and service. 

    Over the years, Jenise has stepped in to support women and children escaping unsafe situations, sometimes with only a moment’s notice. In 2023, when a young mother of four reached out to her for help, Jenise didn’t hesitate. She gathered her community, purchased flights, and brought the family safely to Chicago, housing and supporting them for six months while they rebuilt their lives. 

    “It was a house full of shoes, purses, and big rooms,” she joked. “But that all changed. It became a home for four little boys and a pregnant mom. I look back and wouldn’t change a thing.” 

    Her village showed up too, donating diapers, clothing, food, and even shoes for the children. Jenise coordinated it all, welcoming the family into stability and hope. 

  • Because of her lived experience, Jenise feels deeply connected to YWCA’s work, especially our legal advocacy, crisis intervention, and support for survivors of gender-based violence. 

    “That legal advocacy work is so important,” she says. “So many women think they have to stay because they don’t know help exists. I want my money going toward programs that show up for women and children when they need it most.” 

    At YWCA’s 53rd Annual Leader Luncheon, Jenise was profoundly moved by the story shared by one of our medical advocates and her young daughter. The daughter had begun advocating for others, inspired by her mother’s work. 

    “That little girl made her mom so proud,” Jenise said. “It reminded me how powerful it is to teach the next generation to give back.”

  • For Jenise, becoming a monthly donor wasn’t about the size of the gift, it was about the consistency. 

    “Monthly giving matters because the work is ongoing,” she explains. “YWCA has monthly bills. Programs can’t stop. Even small gifts help keep the people doing this lifesaving work supported.” 

    Her giving ensures: 

    • Children have food and stability 

    • Women can safely leave harmful situations 

    • Frontline advocates have the tools and training to continue their work 

    And Jenise contributes beyond her monthly gift, using her professional network to help source donations, organizing care packages, and even planning to deliver bread and essentials to YWCA sites. 

Jenise Green

  • When Kyra Lovely joined the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago community in June 2024, she didn’t expect her involvement to grow as quickly or as meaningfully as it has. A Chicago-area native and a merchant in ULTA Beauty’s fragrance department, Kyra stepped into the Ambassadors Council, our network of early-to-mid-career professionals committed to advancing equity, with curiosity and enthusiasm. Two years later, she now serves as co-chair, helping bring new voices, new energy, and new perspectives into our mission. 

    Kyra’s connection to YWCA began through ULTA Beauty’s Annual Pretty Empowered program, a partnership that celebrates confidence, community, and opportunity. At one of these events, she found herself in conversation with YWCA Metropolitan Chicago CEO Nicole Robinson. What started as a discussion about the event’s success quickly became a deeper conversation about the breadth of YWCA’s work, from economic empowerment initiatives like Breedlove to survivor-centered services for sexual assault. 

    That conversation sparked something. Kyra realized she wanted to be part of this work in a more intentional way. Today, Kyra is not only a monthly donor but also the co-chair of the Ambassadors Council, bringing fresh leadership, energy, and perspective to YWCA’s community of emerging professionals. 

  • Kyra is humble about her contributions, but she’s clear about why she gives. 

    “I don’t like to say I’m making a huge impact,” she reflects, “but I know my funds are being used. Whether it's Breedlove…or sexual assault services...my contribution is going to make a difference.” 

    For her, the power of monthly giving lies in knowing that every dollar, no matter the size, helps advance healing, safety, and opportunity across the organization. 

  • Our 2026 Black History Month theme is Hope as a Practice. Change as a Legacy captures exactly what Kyra represents. 

    She practices hope through steady, intentional giving. 

    She builds change by helping expand the next generation of YWCA leadership.  And she shows that you don’t have to wait to make an impact, you can start where you are, with what you have, right now. 

    Kyra’s story is a reminder that a legacy of equity begins with consistent actions taken by many, including young professionals like her who choose to invest in community year-round. 

    Stand with Kyra in building a new generation of hope. Become a monthly donor!

Kyra Lovely