Allyson Felix And Athleta Launch Childcare Grant Program

Photo Courtesy of TIME

Here’s another reason to love Allyson Felix. The four-time Olympic track athlete has teamed up with athletic apparel brand Athleta and the Women’s Sports Foundation to provide childcare grants to mothers competing in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Felix is on a mission to support mom-athletes like herself. She hopes to alleviate financial burdens for women who are competing so they can focus on excelling in their sports careers.

In a statement from the Women’s Sports Foundation, she said

, “As a mom and an athlete, I know firsthand the obstacles that women face. I wanted to work with Athleta and the Women’s Sports Foundation to take an important step in supporting female athletes as whole people—both on and off the field—by offering financial childcare support to mom-athletes headed to Tokyo.”

Felix has long been an advocate for women throughout her athletic career. She uses her platform to advocate for equity in healthcare and women’s rights surrounding pregnancy.

In an interview with Fast Company, she said, “One of my first races back after giving birth to my daughter, Camryn, was the World Championships. Not only was I still breastfeeding and physically and mentally exhausted from being a first-time mom while training and competing — I was assigned a roommate at the competition. There was no way I could bring my daughter into a shared room with another athlete who is trying to get in her zone.”

According to NewsOne, each grant recipient will receive $10,000.

“The fund includes $200,000 and will cover all of the costs associated with bringing children to the competition, including food, travel, meals, caregiver expenses and medical costs. The endowments will be awarded to women who are expecting a child in 2021 or have one or more children under the age of 18.”

Fast Company says, “Nine athletes have already been chosen, including Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry and Olympic saber fencer Mariel Zgunis, each of whom will receive $10,000.”

The upcoming Olympics will mark Felix’s fifth Olympic Games. The most decorated track and field athlete in Olympic history, Felix qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by finishing second in the 400-meter finals at the Olympic trials, with a time of 50.02 seconds.

Aziah Kamari

Aziah Kamari Pless is a writer and content creator with 5+ years of experience in freelance writer, editor and PR roles. A graduate of Florida State University, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Editing, Writing and Media. She incorporates her interests in music, fashion, media and entertainment to create versatile and compelling content.