Individual Donors and Chicago Sky of the WNBA donates $5,000 to fund inaugural &Mother Black Maternal Health Changemaker Grant

In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published their report on maternal mortality rates in the United States. In the report, the CDC states:

In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black (subsequently, Black) women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White (subsequently, White) women (26.2). Rates for Black women were significantly higher than rates for White and Hispanic women. The increases from 2020 to 2021 for all race and Hispanic-origin groups were significant.

&Mother founder, President, and CEO Alysia Montaño understands these statistics from personal experience:

“As a Black woman, I knew going into each of my three pregnancies that I was at a higher risk of complications and death. I knew it, even though it didn’t make sense,” Montaño said. “I’m a professional athlete, I am completely in tune with my body and all its inner workings, but that doesn’t matter. The structural racism built into our country’s healthcare system doesn’t care if you’ve set a world record or won multiple championships. If you are a Black woman, the odds are against you.”

The Black Maternal Health Changemaker Grant aims to address the racial disparities faced by Black women by offsetting the out-of-pocket costs known to improve patient outcomes in the prenatal and postpartum period, such as using a midwife and/or doula; lactation consultant; therapist; pelvic floor specialist, and/or items such as breast pumps or jogging strollers.

The Chicago Sky x &Mother Black Maternal Health Changemaker Grant aims to provide financial support to a female-bodied, Black, elite athlete trying to qualify for the 2024 Paris Summer/2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games, or was expected to compete in either one and are now currently pregnant. The grant is designed to offset the burden encountered as a result of taking extended time off for physical and mental recovery related to family planning and / or motherhood. Funds can be used to cover support related to family planning, becoming a new mother, and/or being a working caregiver.

Support includes, but is not limited to: fertility treatments (i.e. IVF, IUI, OI, etc.); prenatal costs (i.e. doulas, etc.); childcare; family travel; mental health;  lactation support; or any other supportive mechanism identified by the awardee as helpful in supporting their journey as a Black woman pursuing or during motherhood.

&Mother will notify grant recipients the week of April 7 on the awarded funds.

For more information about eligibility requirements, please visit the application form here.