FORT WORTH, Texas (May 16, 2023) —United Way of Tarrant County (UWTC) awarded its 2023 Women’s Fund Impact Grants to The Ladder Alliance and the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy at its third annual Women United Investing in Impact Luncheon held May 11.
The Ladder Alliance received a $35,000 grant to support their workforce development and job skills training programs for women. The grant will also help fund similar programs for youth through their partnerships with Cassata and Cristo Rey High Schools. The Ladder Alliance provides victims of domestic violence and women with a low-income tools to lead self-sufficient, successful, independent lives. The Ladder Alliance delivers robust, high-level classes that teach workplace technical skills that can increase salaries to a livable wage. Programs are tailored to give women the relevant skills needed to be more competitive and get hired. The Alliance aims to break the cycles of poverty and intergenerational trauma.
With its $25,000 grant, the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy will send students to College Readiness Bootcamp, setting them up to graduate college with minimal debt. As Fort Worth ISD’s only all-girl public school, Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) serves young women throughout the city in grades 6 through 12, 68% of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. YWLA students learn STEM and visual arts, critical thinking, confidence, and intellectual and social development skills necessary for college, careers and life. The Foundation supports YWLA and its students, securing funding for programs that enhance academic achievement and offer leadership opportunities.
UWTC’s Women United’s Steering Committee hosts the Investing in Impact Luncheon to highlight its efforts to support women and girls in the community. This year’s event, presented by Higginbotham and Cigna, included a panel focused on efforts to combat the high maternal and infant mortality rates in Tarrant County. UWTC President and CEO Leah M. King moderated the discussion.
UWTC recently launched a maternal health initiative to promote healthy pregnancies and deliveries. The program will train 120 community-based women and 30 hospital staff to be doulas to support expectant mothers throughout their entire prenatal, birth and postpartum experience.
“It’s heartbreaking to see how many mothers and infants we’re losing each year, and a large percentage of these deaths are caused by preventable issues,” said King. “We’re bringing attention to this problem and honoring organizations tackling challenges like these to improve outcomes for women and girls in our community.”
About Women United
Women United, an integral part of United Way of Tarrant County, works to improve the lives of women and girls in Tarrant County. This community of like-minded women contributes their personal passions, best ideas and unique strengths to the mission of building stronger communities.
