The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Young Women's Christian Association \Young Women's Christian
Association\
   An organization for promoting the spiritual, intellectual,
   social, and economic welfare of young women, originating in
   1855 with Lady Kinnaird's home for young women, and Miss Emma
   Robert's prayer union for young women,in England, which were
   combined in the year 1884 as a national association. Now
   nearly all the civilized countries, and esp. the United
   States, have local, national, and international
   organizations. See also the similar organizations Young
   Men's Christian Association and YMHA.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]