Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, is asking women to contribute 40 minutes of community service and mentorship in celebration of her 40th birthdayWashington, D.C., August 4, 2021 – To celebrate the 40th birthday of?Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, the Archewell Foundation and YWCA USA are partnering to ask?women everywhere?to contribute 40 minutes of their time to provide community service or mentorship to support women reentering the workforce.In the past two years and largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of millions of women around the world have departed the workforce, while also shouldering the brunt of unpaid labor, including schooling and caring for family members.“Women are bearing the brunt of the dual public health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in America’s first Shecession, said Elisha Rhodes, Interim CEO and COO, YWCA USA. The ongoing pandemic has inflicted widespread economic pain, but women—and especially women of color—have been at a particular disadvantage, as the current economic crisis is layered on policy that has institutionalized gender inequity. In order to achieve economic security and equity in the workforce, women need a strong support system and access to well-paying, stable jobs, and comprehensive child care solutions.”The Duchess of Sussex, the Archewell Foundation, and YWCA believes that mentorship is one of many important ways to support women reentering the workforce. A mentorship relationship can take on many forms, but ultimately works to motivate, inspire, and support a mentee; helping women regain confidence and practical tools she needs to advance a professional life on her own terms.Together, we can contribute to a global wave of compassion and positive change. To learn how you can contribute 40 minutes of your time visit, ywca.org/40x40.Follow along or join in on the conversation by following @YWCAUSA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram using #40X40 #CompassionInAction and #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen.###

About YWCA USA

YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We are one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families.YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for 160 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we combine programming and advocacy to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls.

About Archewell Foundation

Archewell Foundation is an impact-driven non-profit created by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Our core purpose is to uplift and unite communities—local and global, online and offline—one act of compassion at a time. We believe that compassion is the defining cultural force of the 21st century, and through the work of our 501(c)(3), we support a growing community of partner organizations fueling systemic cultural change. At Archewell Foundation, we listen to people and their communities, help them tell their stories, put real action behind our words, and spotlight a new generation of leadership.