As our focus this month is centered around women, we have featured several powerhouse females creating change in our community throughout numerous sections of this issue. As we sat down to learn more about so many local inspirations and their stories, we discovered a common thread and theme weaved into each of them, and those are community and support. So many success stories and achieved dreams include a tribe of people who believe in you, support you, hold you accountable and help you to advance. Because of that, we decided that it is just as imperative to share and bring awareness to organizations and humans that are focused on the mission of supporting, encouraging, and finding ways for women to grow and chase their dreams no matter what circumstances they come from or that they are currently in.
So many women pursuing their dreams do so to create a better life and future for themselves and their families, and to provide more opportunities and security for their children. The bravery and fearlessness that is required to chase your dreams is doubled when you are a single mother. You are the caretaker, the breadwinner, and the glue that holds it all together daily. For many single mothers, the cost of the childcare needed to pursue a higher education is something that can make their goal to create a better life seem daunting. The average cost of full-time quality childcare in Larimer County is $1,277 per month, per child, which is a number outside of most single parents’ reach.
WomenGive, a program of the United Way, was created in 2006 by a group of passionate and caring women with an aim to create any opportunity for women in the Larimer County community to come together to help and uplift the women around them. Today that group of women has transformed into a dynamic network of more than 500 members who focus their financial resources to help women in Larimer County achieve economic self-sufficiency. Their focus is to provide support and financial assistance through childcare scholarships to single mothers pursuing postsecondary education. Helping families achieve self-sufficiency allows them to focus on their studies with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that their children are receiving the best care possible in a safe environment.
To date this program has awarded 889 childcare scholarships, benefiting 414 children, and resulting in 135 recipients graduating. And all of this is done through the power of the giving. The ripple effect from these small acts of kindness by the WomenGive members and donors reaches across generations, not only affecting that mother and child directly, but their future families and extended network as well. Those children get to watch their mothers achieve their dreams and work towards their goals all while being in environments that allow them safety and support. The generosity from the members and donors of WomenGive allow this organization to strengthen the lives of other women and their families in our communities every single day. The saying “it takes a village” seems cliché, but that is exactly what the members and community of The United Way’s WomenGive are; a village making sure their tribe of women can succeed and in turn, those women then invest and pour into their own families and the communities surrounding them.
To learn more about becoming a WomenGive Member or WomenGive Business Member, contact Justin at jburry@uwaylc.org or (970) 407-7052.
The ripple effect from these small acts of kindness by the WomenGive members and donors reaches across generations.
