The organization began in 1913 after meeting at the Roanoke home of Mrs. A. J. Kennard. The first permanent organization meeting was held in January of 1914 where it met at the Green Memorial Methodist Church. With 1,153 pledge memberships, the E.W. Tinsley property at 415 Roanoke Street was chosen as the first home of the Association. In 1923 the program was extended to African American girls and women with the formation of the Phyllis Wheatley Branch which by the 1950s was called the Lula Williams Memorial Branch. The organization's headquarters began meeting in a structure built specifically for the association at the corner of First Street and Franklin Road., S.W. The building was dedicated on May 28, 1928. As of 2002, the organization was called the YWCA of the Roanoke Valley. Its Executive Director was Pat Reynolds. An indication as to the services and programs it offers can be found in the organization's stated mission which is to "empower women and eliminate racism, the YWCA provides programs in these core areas: residence, child care and youth development, community and leadership development, advocacy and public policy, racial and social justice, targeted special-needs programs, and health and fitness."