Gifts4Moms with Stephanie Ward

There are over 10.4 million single mother families in the US. Women with children earn 10-15% less than women without children. It is no exaggeration to say that many, many single mothers are in a precarious financial state. Our guest is Stephanie Ward.

Stephanie Ward, Gifts 4 Moms

The holiday season is a time for parties, joy and presents. But it’s a time of stress for single mothers. Who makes a happy holiday for them? The Gifts for Moms project was founded by Stephanie Ward after she took custody of two small children with nowhere else to go. The first year was extremely tough, both emotionally and financially, but she'd always believed "when you think about others, you don’t think about yourself," so she bought Christmas gifts for other single moms who otherwise wouldn't have gotten one.

The problem becomes exacerbated with women who have been in violent or abusive relationships. many women stay in abusive situations mainly for financial reasons. They don’t feel they can make it on their own, so they give up their safety in favor of financial security. Ward encourages these women to take on a leadership role in the organization, which boosts their self-esteem, helps them feel more empowered, and proves that they can do things they never imagined.