YWCA Campaign Director Carrie Carroll, who says the campaign isthe largest ever embarked upon by a social services agency in thePuget Sound area, says the YWCA has already raised $10.3 million,about a quarter of its total goal, through private fundraisingefforts.

"We wanted to make sure that we had the support of our boardmembers before we took the campaign to the public and asked fortheir support," says Carroll, who notes that more than half themonies so far received have been contributed by board members.

The core project featured in the YWCA's capital improvementsplan is the construction of a seven-story, 135,000-sf complex thatwill feature a homeless women's day shelter, a comprehensivecomputer lab, classrooms and 145 low-income housing units. Carrollsays the building will be constructed on YWCA-owned propertylocated on 3rd Avenue between Lenora and Virginia Streets.