The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Virginia (“Molina”), presented a $50,000 grant to help fund the WomenRise program of the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. The program provides childcare scholarships for single mothers returning to school to pursue a postsecondary education or career training in the Richmond area.

People with higher levels of education are more likely to lead healthier and longer lives, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. However, only 30% of single mothers in the United States hold an associate degree or higher compared to over 50% of married mothers. Molina’s grant will provide $50,000 in scholarships to support mothers enrolled in classes or training programs and cover the cost of childcare services while they further their education.

“The expense of childcare can be a barrier for single mothers in our region to simultaneously raise a family and pursue higher education,” said Darrin Johnson, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Virginia. “MolinaCares is proud to support our local United Way and their WomenRise program to help mothers in the Greater Richmond and Petersburg region make the dream of advancing their careers and improving the lives of their families a reality."

A WomenRise scholarship is paid directly to the childcare provider and the scholarship program includes access to mentorship, support, and encouragement from peers, as well as a set of partners and resources within the United Way network. While WomenRise scholarships are offered on an annual basis, participants are eligible to apply for renewal each year until they graduate.

“WomenRise is a multi-generational approach – improving household incomes and outcomes for single mothers and their children,” said Angela Otto, interim president and CEO for United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg. “Thanks to support from MolinaCares, mothers in the WomenRise program will now have more time to focus on studying and class attendance while their children are taken care of in safe childcare facilities. This removes a huge barrier for single mothers looking to further their education.”

According to United Way, the WomenRise program provided a total of $185,000 to 23 local single mothers in 2022, an approximate increase of 280% from the first year. This year’s application period was open from May 1 through May 31. United Way will announce scholarship recipients this summer. To learn more about the WomenRise program, visit http://www.yourunitedway.org/program/womenrise/.

Learn more about the community-based organizations in Virginia supported by The MolinaCares Accord here.

About The MolinaCares Accord

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of Virginia

Since 2017, Molina Healthcare of Virginia, LLC, has been providing government-funded, quality health care to its members through Medicaid and Medicare programs including Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus and Medallion 4.0. Molina Healthcare of Virginia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Molina Healthcare, Inc. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 5.3 million members as of March 31, 2023. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Virginia, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

About United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg

United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg empowers individuals and addresses systemic problems to provide everyone with a clear path to success. They do this by conducting research, funding programs and organizations, driving systems-level change and engaging with individuals in 11 localities across the region. Learn more at www.YourUnitedWay.org.

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