When Dallas, a single mother of two young girls, lost her prior funding for child care, she faced an uncertain future. Her daughters, now aged three and five, had already started attending a center she carefully chose.
“It was a lifesaver,” Dallas says of the WomenGive child care scholarship, a program from United Way of Larimer County. This support didn’t just mean her daughters could stay in child care; it meant they could remain with the care provider Dallas had carefully chosen.
“The center my children are at now wouldn’t have been accessible to us without WomenGive,” she shares. Moms know what their kids need, and WomenGive’s scholarships support mothers like Dallas to select the licensed provider that best matches their children, not just their checkbooks.
Dallas, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies with a focus on early childhood education at CSU, plans to graduate in May 2025, all while working full-time.
“I love supporting kids in their development,” she shares, “hoping they all get childhoods that are nice and loving to look back on.” WomenGive has made it possible for her to balance work, studies, and parenting.
“It makes it feasible to juggle all the different things,” she says.
For Dallas, the support from WomenGive extends beyond child care. She’s also received emergency assistance for car repairs and rental aid when unexpected expenses piled up.
“When life throws you big, expensive emergencies, it’s nice to have that backup,” she explains, noting that these resources have been critical in helping her maintain stability for her family.
“No one does their best parenting when they’re in survival mode,” she explains. ”For single moms especially, financial stability and stress management are huge.”
One of the greatest impacts of WomenGive’s support is the continuity it provides her daughters. Dallas’s youngest child, who previously struggled with the transition into child care, has grown to enjoy it.
“A big part of that was the consistency,” Dallas says. “It’s comforting to know that she’s building strong relationships with her providers.”
Dallas’s experience illustrates the broader value of WomenGive’s mission.
“WomenGive offers something no other resource does,” she emphasizes. “High-quality child care for single moms doesn’t just impact kids; it allows moms to pursue education and careers, which brings more educated women into the workforce. It’s good for everyone.”
“WomenGive creates wide-ranging positive impacts on our community. I’m incredibly grateful for it.”
