FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Talisa White
August 5, 2025 twhite@wawf.org
Washington, D.C. (December 13, 2025) – Washington Area Women’s Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the HERizon Fund, an initiative designed to increase graduation rates in Early Childhood Education and Maternal Health, two fields that help provide economic stability for families, in the Washington metropolitan region.
HERizon Fund scholarships support students pursuing post-secondary degrees and professional certification programs in career pathways predominately chosen by women, helping them overcome financial barriers and access the education and resources needed to thrive. By investing in their education, the Foundation advances its mission to strengthen the economic security and overall well-being of women and girls across the region.
In its inaugural year, the Women’s Foundation will distribute $350,000 in scholarship funding to the following five outstanding partner institutions whose missions align with its vision of equity and opportunity:
- District of Columbia Community College
- Mamatoto Village
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Prince George’s Community College
- Trinity Washington University
Scholarships through the HERizon Fund will support students pursuing studies in Early Childhood Education or Maternal Health, and will be used to cover tuition, emergency assistance, and/or wraparound services to help ensure recipients can not only enroll, but successfully complete their programs.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking cycles of poverty,” said Dr. Tamara Wilds Lawson, President & CEO, Washington Area Women’s Foundation. “Through the HERizon Fund, we are investing directly in the aspirations of those who will play critical roles in our communities, ensuring they have the support they need to cross the finish line.”
The HERizon Fund emphasizes the Foundation’s continued commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for women and girls, particularly those facing systemic barriers to education and economic mobility.
For more information about the HERizon Fund and how to support it, please visit wawf.org/HERizon.
###
About Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Washington Area Women’s Foundation is the only community–supported foundation investing in the power of women and girls of color in the Washington, D.C. region. Since 1998, The Women’s Foundation has awarded over $17M to more than 215 local community–based organizations and individuals through grantmaking and advocacy efforts. For more information or to donate to improve the livelihood of women and girls of color, visit thewomensfoundation.org.