Women Give San Diego Advances Strategies to Support Women and Girls

$140,000 in Grants Support Dependent Care and Digital Learning for Women and Girls

 

SAN DIEGO, CA (May 10, 2021) – Women Give San Diego (“WGSD”), a giving circle of Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, announced today $140,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations and programs throughout San Diego County. Funding is focused on supporting organizations who have provided dependent care and/or digital learning opportunities for women and girls throughout the pandemic.

“Women Give San Diego is proud to partner with six organizations focused on meeting the unique burdens women have faced throughout the pandemic,” said Sara Vaz, co-president of WGSD. “We were very intentional to direct our funding this year to the highest needs of women in our community. We know that women have dropped out of the workforce in record numbers because of the lack of childcare and support for their children to learn in a virtual environment. We also know that women of color have been the most impacted by these job losses and further negative impacts of COVID-19.”

Through the grants, the San Diego and Imperial Women’s Business Center and March for Black Womxn San Diego have each received $30,000; DETOUR and Somali Family Service of San Diego have each received $25,000; and Elder Help and North County Lifeline have each received $15,000.   

A report published by SANDAG in September 2020 illustrated the impact of the health crisis on 3,500 households across the county, with the majority coming from areas that were disproportionately affected. Childcare assistance and lack of distance learning resources were among the top needs and challenges reported by respondents. 

The economic impacts of the pandemic have put economic stress on childcare providers. National survey data has shown that in order to keep doors open to serve the families who depend on them, childcare providers have taken on debt to their personal credit cards. Investing in child care also serves to invest in racial and gender equity: Nationally, 92% of essential dependent care workers are women, and disproportionately women of color.  

According to SANDAG data, household income has shown to be a predictor for computer availability for school-aged children. Just over half (54%) of household with incomes under $25,000 reported computer availability for students, compared to 73% of those with incomes over $50,000. For immigrant and refugee families in particular, digital literacy training and access has proven to be a high area of need.

“Somali Family Service is grateful to partner with Women Give San Diego, in our shared goal to empower girls by providing vital tools that foster academic success, economic self-sufficiency, and self-determination,” said Ahmed Sahid, President & CEO of Somali Family Services. “Women Give San Diego’s generous support and contribution allow us to increase access to technology and digital literacy training for girls from refugee and immigrant families in San Diego. In light of the challenges many of these girls face while striving to access educational opportunities, the support cultivates resiliency and perseverance, while also promoting equity. We cherish this impactful opportunity Women Give San Diego makes possible.”

Women Give San Diego pools funding from 155 individual members to fund nonprofit organizations in San Diego County that offer underserved women and girls the opportunity to become fully engaged in the prosperity of their local communities. Women Give San Diego also advocates for public awareness of women’s economic issues and policy change at the local and state level. WGSD’s model for change balances education, community collaboration and advocacy, and strategic, effective grantmaking.

“We are proud of the work of our nonprofit partners and are thankful to be able to support them in a meaningful way,” Vaz said. 

 

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About Women Give San Diego

Women Give San Diego is a nonprofit giving circle with 155 members funding programs that help women and girls of San Diego achieve economic self-sufficiency. Through our 7 working committees, we work to identify and assist our grant partners, educate and advocate for women’s issues, and mentor each other to create close working and personal relationships. Women Give San Diego is fiscally sponsored by Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties. To learn more, visit www.womengivesd.org.