Dr.Mary Cauthen Annual Giving Fund 2024

Hello, the Cauthen/Greene family is raising money to benefit the YWCA of Palm Beach County, Inc., in honor of Dr.Mary C. Cauthen. The funds will support victims of domestic, support the building of the Women's Health program, support the building of the Racial Justice program, and help with the maintenance of the Dr. Mary C. Cauthen Library. This annual fund acknowledges her passing on April 21st, 2020. Concurrently, we encourage all to complete the fitness challenge that was also created in her honor. The Challenge: April 6th to April 19th, workout every day; April 12th to April 19th, complete a liquid Fast; April 19th, complete a half marathon; April 20th-21st, spend quality time with friends and family. We do this to remember her STRENGTH, STRUGGLE, and all that she ENDURED.

Any donation will help make an impact; any fitness challenge you take on in her honor is deeply appreciated. Just as she was the light for so many, we want to encourage you to be the light for the ones you love. Thanks in advance for contributing to this cause; it means so much to us.

Mary's Journey and Mission:

Mary Carmen Cauthen has been a survivor all of her life. One of her most formative experiences was surviving domestic violence. She turned this experience into a lifelong passion dedicated to helping victims of violence.

Since 2002, she worked for the YWCA of Palm Beach County, established in 1917 to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Our beloved Dr. Cauthen held every position within the domestic violence programs over the past 18 years. She was Chief Program Officer since February 2019 and was the Director of Domestic Abuse Programs at the YWCA for 13 years prior. She provided services to well over 8,000 victims of domestic violence and provided training to professionals throughout Palm Beach County. Dr. Cauthen facilitated numerous community education/awareness events on domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking. She also examined the root causes and comorbidities associated with domestic violence, such as health issues, oppression, and privilege.

Her awards emphasize her dedication to fighting violence and empowering women: Outstanding Achievement Award for facilitation of “Steppin' Out Against Violence" in 2004; recognition for her Community Education and Supportive Services to Victims of Domestic Violence in 2005; Appreciation Awards for her participation in the Federal Women’s Program at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center for Women’s History Month in 2006 and 2007; the Barry Krischer Humanitarian Award for outstanding services to victims of domestic violence in 2017; and nomination for the Victim Advocate of the Year Award with the Attorney General of the State of Florida in 2018. Dr. Cauthen has four children, and they are all survivors of domestic violence.

In the months before her passing, Dr. Cauthen always talked about her biggest dream: to see the YWCA expand and impact more women and children. She envisioned increased and more developed programming, like the new women's health services and racial justice programs she started, and more resources to support that programming, including but not limited to individual buildings to support specialized departments and entire staff. Her dream was to enable the growth of the YWCA to further peace, justice, and freedom, eliminate racism, empower women, and promote dignity for all.

Dr. Cauthen was an outstanding wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Every year, we honor her memory by asking you to donate to the YWCA of Palm Beach County, the organization to which she dedicated much of her life's work.

Any donation would help make a difference. Thanks in advance for contributing to this cause; it would mean so much to her and to us, her family.