Child Care Scholar Spotlight: Zoe

Each year, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County provides Child Care Scholarships to parents so they can pursue higher education without the stress of paying for quality child care.

Powered by Women United, the United Way Child Care Scholarships provide multi-generational support for both the parent and their child.

Parents are empowered to pursue their education and achieve greater economic stability. At the same time, their children are able to thrive as they learn in quality centers during these critical years of early childhood development.

Our child care scholar spotlight this month is Zoe.

Before applying for the scholarship, Zoe, a mom of two, was struggling to afford quality child care for her children while pursuing her education and career goals. Without her degree, she didn’t know how she would provide the life she wanted for herself and her children.

“I had recently become a single mom of two,” Zoe explains. Like many scholars, she heard about the scholarship opportunity from a friend. Zoe was not optimistic about her chances but applied anyway in 2021. Weeks later, she got the news that she had been selected for the United Way Child Care Scholarship.

The scholarship empowered her to build life-changing pathways for her family. Her children were able to thrive in quality child care centers while she pursued her degree. “Because of this incredible scholarship, I have been able to continue my education while knowing that my children are in safe, affordable child care.”

With the help of the United Way Child Care Scholarship, Zoe has successfully obtained her associate’s degree and started a higher-earning job as a dental assistant. Today, she is continuing her education at UTSA and works as a content creator for a web developer. All of these advancements in her career and education were far easier to achieve due to the scholarship.

Clearly a fiercely driven person, Zoe gives back to the community as well. In March, she accompanied United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County to the State Capitol in Austin to meet with legislators. Her message to lawmakers was clear: the people of Texas need better access to affordable, quality child care.

“I will advocate for this cause for the rest of my life.” Zoe is an incredible example of perseverance and strength, advocating for herself and others like her.