Thunderbirds Charities has generously granted $10,000 of Covid-19 relief funding to Live & Learn’s Women Thriving program. The Women Thriving program offers Maricopa County women a pathway back to stability and employment in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
“Thunderbirds Charities is investing in Maricopa County’s recovery through their support of our Women Thriving program,” says Kristin Chatsworth, Executive Director of Live & Learn. “We must make sure women and their children are not left behind by the economic recovery.”
Women in poverty have been devastated by the economic impact of the pandemic. Women in low-wage and service-sector positions lost jobs at an unprecedented rate. Childcare costs have tripled. Phoenix-area domestic violence homicide increased 180%. Mental illness and substance use are increasing. Low-income populations experienced Covid-19 infection rates five times the national average. Over 250,000 Arizonans face eviction.
The Women Thriving program offers a solution. By December 2020, 80% of women enrolled in the program had successfully secured full-time employment and lowered their reliance on government assistance.
Funding from Thunderbirds Charities will be used to help women in the program overcome barriers to employment. This includes bus passes, internet stipend to allow for job search, employer-required fingerprint cards, childcare registration fees, or similar. Support with these costs can be the difference between successfully securing a job or remaining dependent on government assistance.
When women thrive, they strengthen their families and the community.Together, Thunderbirds Charities and Live & Learn are empowering women to thrive.
Who is Live & Learn?
Live & Learn’s mission is to empower women to break the cycle of generational poverty. The organization serves adult women in Maricopa County whose lives have been shaped by poverty, homelessness, and violence. Founded in 2012 by the Arizona Foundation for Women, Live & Learn offers one-on-one coaching and support to help women pursue their education, secure stable employment, access comprehensive healthcare, and achieve long-term self-sufficiency. Live & Learn serves 200 women each year, and 85% of women successfully earn a certification or degree, begin a professional career, and rise off of government assistance. Importantly, studies show that Live & Learn women are able to maintain their success even years after completing the program. When women thrive, they strengthen their families and the community.
