A mother of three and a veteran, Bianca had dreams of going to college to become a teacher. Due to the high costs of quality child care, she didn’t believe she could. With the average cost of child care in Texas at roughly $9,300 per year her fears were justified.
Bianca worried that if she went back to school while having her youngest daughter in child care, she may not be able to afford groceries, utility bills and other critical items. That is when she applied for the United Way Child Care Scholarship, powered by Women United. She was awarded the scholarship in fall 2023 and started in January 2024. ting January 2024. Bianca is no longer burdened by the high cost of child care.
“It does so much more than just pay for daycare,” Bianca says. “I am able to make sure I have enough for groceries, utilities and other things that come out of pocket for children like clothes, shoes and things of that nature.”
The impact of the scholarship is multi-generational, as both Bianca and her two-year-old daughter are thriving in their education.
“Without this scholarship, I would have never been able to get my daughter in an amazing daycare,” she said. Prior to being awarded the scholarship, Bianca says she was only able to afford part-time care that she admits “wasn’t the best facility.” She had to “take it for what it is” because she needed to be able to attend her classes. With the scholarship, her daughter now attends a higher-quality early learning center that is curriculum based.
At this new school, Bianca’s daughter is showing improved cognitive, emotional and social growth. “They do activities multiple times per day, they go outside, she knows her colors, numbers and she is so much more engaged,” Bianca added. She says her daughter is more well-rounded because of her new school.
“You know, a lot of people think that too, that children don’t know how to follow routine and rules, but seeing them in this daycare line up to go outside, do circle time for book time or sing songs together, it goes to show you that if you apply those skills, they can learn it,” Bianca said. “It’s because of those higher quality child care that those children are being exposed to that.”
Going to school was one of Bianca’s greatest passions but the high-cost of child care was a barrier to her success. “I couldn’t necessarily quit my job to go back to school. I knew that if I attempted to go to school full-time and work full-time that I wasn’t going to be able to make it. I wasn’t going to be able to do it to my expectations,” she says.
Without the burden of paying her usual $1,400 monthly bill for child care, Bianca is on her way to becoming a teacher as a junior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. A first-generation college student, Bianca is proud to be a model of success for her children.
At United Way’s Power of the Purse this past April, Bianca spoke about the impact the scholarship has had on her family. Her voice and inspiration helped lead the event to a record-breaking $294,000 to fund future child care scholarships for families. “I think something that the scholarship showed me when I went to the Power of the Purse was how many people out there that contribute to this scholarship, that believe in me and that believe in our other scholars, that they can achieve their dreams,” Bianca said. “Without this scholarship, I didn’t feel I would ever be able to go to school because I wouldn’t be making enough money.”
With the support of the United Way Child Care Scholarship, the signature cause of Women United, Bianca and her daughter are thriving in their education while breaking barriers to a brighter future for their family.
If you would like to help empower parents like Bianca as they build stronger foundations for their family’s future, please consider joining Women United. If you are a parent in need of more affordable child care in order to pursue economic mobility through college or job training, you can apply for the United Way Child Care Scholarship. If you live on the east or west sides of the city, please also considering applying for United Way’s Dual Generation Initiative, which also provides subsidizes child care to parents pursuing their education.
|
Categories: Impact Stories |
