The Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance (YFPA) will hold its yearly “Heart-Showering” event at the Germantown Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) building, in an attempt to raise awareness about the historic site.

Held each year on or around Valentine’s Day, the Heart-Showering sees YFPA and community members place handmade paper hearts on or near threatened historic sites. This year’s event will take place on Feb. 14, alongside community members and the Friends of the YWCA group.

“Every Valentine’s Day, the [YFPA] chooses a site that is at risk, to try to raise public awarenessw,” Hanna Stark, Director of Policy and Communications at the Preservation Alliance, told the Local. “They always do a crafting session before to make the valentines that they’re going to put on the building, and use it as a way to get the attention of passers by to draw some attention to a building that might need it.”

She added, “There is a really concentrated effort already in place to raise awareness for the [YWCA], so the fact that we were able to partner with the neighbors and the Friends of the Y, I think that’s been really, you know, made it a really attractive site.”

In previous years, the YFPA has held this event at the Francis R. Strawbridge House and Mount Vernon Cemetery in East Falls, Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia, and the Henry O. Tanner House in Strawberry Mansion.

The YFPA is a volunteer organization tied to the Preservation Alliance, focusing on advocacy for “projects and movements that positively impact cultural heritage and celebrates a vast community dedicated to protecting the built environment and heritage throughout the region.”

Ha Leem Ro has been a member of the YFPA since 2023 as part of its steering committee, organizing networking and community events. Planning for this year’s event, Ro and other members were drawn to the YWCA for its rich history and community importance.

“We chose the YWCA because of its long-standing commitment to empowering women, promoting racial justice, and supporting families and individuals in need,” Ro told the Local. “The building itself is over 100 years old and stands as a powerful monument to the Black and white women of Germantown who, in 1946, helped make the YWCA a beacon for racial integration and civic and social engagement. Today, the building is open to the elements and stands vulnerable to deterioration. Highlighting this site allows us to draw attention not only to its architectural value, but also to its deep social and cultural significance.”

She added, “The YWCA is one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the world, founded in 1858. It has played a major role in social movements throughout history, including civil rights, women’s empowerment, and racial justice.”

Built in 1915, the YWCA provided housing, educational programs, workforce training, and community space for women and families. According to the YFPA, the site later became an important site of racial integration and social service delivery and served as a gathering place for the surrounding neighborhood.

Located at 5820 Germantown Ave., the property is controlled by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA), which first accepted a bid from Ohio-based developer KBK Enterprises in 2016. While the PRA holds the property, due to councilmanic prerogative, district City Council members hold veto power over land-use decisions in their districts.

The property has been vacant since the late 1990s, with KBK mostly maintaining the development rights since 2016.

In a press release, the YFPA wrote, “Prolonged disinvestment and deferred maintenance have left the building in deteriorating condition, raising ongoing concerns among neighbors, preservation advocates, and community members about its long-term future. Over the years, multiple redevelopment concepts have been proposed, but none have yet moved forward to construction, leaving the property in a state of uncertainty.”

The event will take place at 5820 Germantown Ave. on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to noon. No registration is required, and all are welcome to participate.

“Our Heart Showering event is a way to show love for Philadelphia’s historic urban fabric by inviting young professionals and community members to place hearts and loving messages on a threatened historic building or site,” Ro said. “The event represents the heart of what YFPA stands for: advocating for projects and movements that positively impact cultural heritage, while celebrating a broad and diverse community dedicated to protecting the built environment. It’s especially meaningful because it blends creativity, community, and purpose in a way that feels both joyful and impactful.”​