The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation’s Initiatives Support Mothers in Crisis

The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation will help transform the lives of mothers facing hardship by providing scholarships and essential items to more than 100 women on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10.

The Foundation will be awarding scholarships worth $3,500 each to three women through its FairyDust Scholarship Program on Mother’s Day. In addition, the Foundation’s Adopt-A-Mom Campaign pairs mothers in crisis, many of whom are survivors of domestic violence, facing housing insecurity, or recovering from illness, with donors who provide direct, life-affirming support.

Last year, The Foundation’s Adopt-A-Mom Campaign supported more than 100 mothers and their children.

Supporters of the Adopt-A-Mom Campaign sign up on The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation website to provide families with groceries, diapers, formula, warm coats, help with utility bills or other essential items.

Donors receive the family story and specific needs of the mom they’re helping, creating a meaningful connection. The assistance arrives on Mother’s Day. Support goes directly to a family in need without red tape and delays and supports their wellness, confidence, and emotional restoration

“We believe that when mothers are supported, families and entire communities thrive. Through this initiative, we aim to reduce everyday burdens while reminding mothers that they are seen, valued, and deserving of care,” said Simone Gordon, the founder and executive director of The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation.

The Adopt-A-Mom Campaign is a transformative Mother’s Day initiative designed to uplift, support and restore dignity to marginalized mothers navigating economic hardship and systemic inequities, Gordon said.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the official poverty rate for Black individuals fell to a record low of 17.1 percent in 2022, though it remained significantly higher than the national average. The government reported that in March 2023, 22.8 percent of Black non-Hispanic households reported that their children sometimes or often did not have enough to eat during the past week. Additionally, 19.5 percent of Hispanic households, 13.1 percent of other non-Hispanic, 10.1 percent of Asian non-Hispanic, and 8.1 percent of white non-Hispanic households reported child food insufficiency.

A 2025 report by the United Way of the Capital Area estimated that more than nine million children are in poverty in the United States and noted that the effects of childhood poverty can include poor health, education and employment outcomes.

Gordon said many marginalized women are often the heads of households, often unemployed or underemployed and survivors of domestic violence. This leads to “period poverty” for many of these women, who must choose between menstrual products and feeding their families. Many also experience bra and underwear poverty, in which basic necessities like bras and underwear are often unaffordable, leading to hygiene issues, health risks, and decreased self-esteem.

The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation’s Scholarship Program supports single, marginalized mothers seeking to stabilize their lives through education. Recipients may attend community college, obtain a license or certificate of their choice, or complete a GED program. Scholarships are awarded annually on Mother's Day.

“We are showing women that there is life after trauma,” said Gordon. “These scholarships help women heal and create opportunities for them and their families.”

“Together, we can change lives one mom at a time,” Gordon said.

ABOUT THE BLACK FAIRY GODMOTHER FOUNDATION

The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation restores stability, dignity, and hope to marginalized families in crisis by delivering immediate, direct support when it is needed most. Through the power of community, social media, and collective giving, the Foundation remove barriers to safety and opportunity and helps families overcome poverty, escape domestic violence, and build pathways toward lasting independence

The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation was born from a simple but powerful belief: no one should have to face crisis alone.