History
Highlights From Our Past
1977 – The Women’s Survival Center
1978 – The first women’s employment program
1980 – The first substance abuse treatment program designed specifically for women
1981 – The first emergency home repair program for seniors.
1985 – Name changes to The Centre for Women
1997 – Founding partner with the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network
1999 – Founding partner to establish Elderlink Consortium
1999 – Assumed management of Family Service Association
2001 – Built and opened The Centre for Girls
2002 – Attained accreditation from The Joint Commission
2003 – One of 10 Finalists in the First National Business Plan Competition for NonProfit Organizations by the Yale School of Management
2003 – One of four organizations to be selected by Oprah’s Angels Network to receive a contribution
2006 – Purchased 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse to increase capabilities of SHIP
2006 – First recipient of Humana’s Tampa Bay Benefits Award of $100,000
2007 – Approved by State to participate in BRITE research project
2013 – The Women’s Business Centre Opens
2014 – The Centre for Women Becomes The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women
2014 – The Centre holds Inaugural Waves of Change Luncheon with Gloria Steinem
2014 – The SBA Funds The Women’s Business Centre and it becomes part of a National Network of WBCS.
2015 – Women Building Futures Launches to Train Women in Construction
2018 – The Centre for Women Hosts the National Conference of Women’s Business Centers.
2018 – Florida Blue Funds Wellness Emprise Initiative for College Students
2018 – The Centre for Women Opens Office at HCC Brandon
2019 – Employment Services Renamed Tampa Bay Works for Women
2020 – Girls Services Relocates to Hyde Park as Centre for Girls Closes
2020 – Tampa Bay Business Journal Designates The Centre for Women as one of the best nonprofits in Tampa.
2021 – The Centre receives SBA funding to help people navigate the pandemic and take advantage of SBA programs for small businesses.
2023 – The Centre for Women launched the Pat Frank Leadership Program
2023 – The Centre for Women hosts Waves of Change Leadership Luncheon with Actor, Producer and Author Ali Wentworth, and local honorees Julie Weintraub and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
2024 – The Centre for Women opens The Kathy Castor Centre for Counseling & Wellness
2025 – The Centre for Women hosts Waves of Change Leadership Luncheon celebrating Brooke Shields and Dr. Moira J. Burke.
During the 1970s and the era of the Equal Rights Amendment, several fledgling organizations serving women developed in the area. There was discussion among the Boards about combining all their grassroots efforts and ultimately, two organizations prevailed, The Spring and the Women’s Survival Center, later known as The Centre for Women.
Led by then State Representative Helen Gordon Davis, a staunch proponent of women and minority rights, the founding group of volunteers wanted a place that could help women deal with the emotional and financial traumas that occurred as a result of divorce, widowhood, or separation. The typical consumer was a woman in her forties, who had not been employed in many years, if ever. She had two children and her income had dropped over 70% as a result of the change in her marital status. Both counseling and education programs were needed to help the women work through their feelings, face the economic realities and move ahead to become self-sufficient.
With small federal grants and contributions, services started in July of 1978, and the passage of state Displaced Homemaker legislation several months later (which Representative Davis co-sponsored) provided more stable, on-going support for these services.
Counselors began to notice the prevalence of dependency on tranquilizers among the displaced homemaker population. The Centre Board and staff were ahead of their time in 1980 when they created the first chemical dependency program for women in this area. Though initially designed to address problems with prescribed medication, the program grew, changed with the times and population.
The Centre for Women assumed the management and control of another nonprofit, Family Service Association of Greater Tampa. The Family Service Board determined that the organization was too small to afford an independent infrastructure, and felt The Centre had a comparable philosophy and complementary services. Family Service, the second oldest charitable organization in Hillsborough County, was established in 1907. Though its name and role changed numerous times through these many years, it has become a highly respected counseling organization for the past thirty years. In addition to its sliding fee scale, Family Service also has Employee Assistance contracts and is approved by a number of insurance carriers.
Today, The Centre for Women is a nonprofit organization that serves more than 5,000 people each year with programs such as individual and family counseling, employment preparation, small business development, and home repairs and rehabs for low-income seniors.
About the House
Representative Davis believed a warm environment would enhance self-esteem and promote feelings of worthiness for the women during this troubled time in their lives. She solicited contributions for a down payment, and the organization bought what the Bureau of Historic Places later designated as the Ward-Taliaferro House (c. 1895). Occurring prior to the restoration of the Hyde Park area, such a purchase would not be affordable today. Supplemented by labor of the Board members, local architect, Jan Abell, oversaw sufficient renovation to make the building safe and useable. In the late 1980s, The Centre received several historic preservation grants to restore the exterior of the building, which has been described as one of the best examples of neo-classical architecture in Tampa. Through the years, people have remarked about how comfortable the house is, and that they often feel support just walking in the door.
Remembering Helen Gordon Davis
Champion of the Disenfranchised and Beloved Founder of The Centre for Women
It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved founder, Helen Gordon Davis. As we celebrate her life, we are filled with immense gratitude for her remarkable foresight as a champion for civil and women’s rights. She stood up for all women, particularly those who had no political voice or social influence.