Felix is among 12 grant recipients of Melinda Gates’ initiative, which she will use to fuel her advocacy for Black maternal health.
This grant honors Felix’s relentless dedication to advancing Black maternal health in the United States, reflecting Gates’ commitment to supporting organizations that champion women’s, families’, and reproductive rights. In a statement to The New York Times, Gates emphasized the severe underfunding of women-focused causes, stating, “Despite the pressing need, only about 2 percent of charitable giving in the United States goes to organizations focused on women and girls, and only about half a percentage point goes to organizations focused on women of color.”
The grant aims to tackle pressing concerns such as the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black and Native American mothers, the loss of reproductive rights in 14 states, and the lack of national paid family leave in the U.S.
“It was top of mind to support athletes who are mothers,” Felix said. “It’s a space where families can get away from it all and have some of the comforts of home. They can have playtime and places to feed their babies…It’s here so that mothers and families feel supported.”
Source: Black Enterprise
