A $50,000 grant presented by Gas South to the nonprofit organization Nana Grants will help low-income, single mothers who are enrolled as students at Chattahoochee Technical College cover the cost of child care and stay on track for graduation as they balance school, work and parenting.
“Childcare can be a cost-prohibitive burden for single mothers who make the decision to earn their college degree,” said Chattahoochee Tech Advancement Coordinator Amanda Henderson. “This grant will be life-changing for many students.”
Henderson worked with Erica Stephens, the founder and executive director of Nana Grants, to apply for the Gas South grant. Funding provided through this grant will be administered directly to qualifying students by Nana Grants in collaboration with Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, which is administered by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. Chattahoochee Tech Special Populations & Title IX Coordinator Shanequa Nickkie Warrington will promote this funding opportunity to eligible students at Chattahoochee Tech.
Stephens founded Nana Grants in 2016 in honor of her grandmother, Mary “Gran” Arivett, and her mother, Diann “Nana” Arivett, specifically to pay for child care so that low-income, single mothers can attend college. “Our goal is to eliminate the uncertainty of child care so that student mothers can focus on their studies, graduate and have a rewarding, well-compensated career,” said Stephens. “It is an honor to work with Chattahoochee Tech and Gas South to bring these opportunities to Northwest Georgia.”
Over 100 nonprofit organizations applied for the Gas South Impact Investment grant funding, with 18 applicants selected to promote their programs at a recent Gas South event, according to Henderson. Gas South employees voted for the six finalists, which each received grant funding. In addition to Nana Grants, these finalists included Atlanta Mission, Kate’s Club, Los Ninos Primero, Shepherd Center and Sunshine on a Ranney Day.
“Gas South’s Impact Investments allow us to work side-by-side with local nonprofits to learn how we can make a difference in the lives of children in need in our communities,” said Kevin Greiner, Gas South president and CEO.
Nana Grants is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that pays for child care so that low-income, single mothers can attend college. Each Nana Grant helps cover the cost of child care for one year, renewable for the length of the student’s program of study at a Georgia Technical College. For more information about Nana Grants, visit www.nanagrants.org.
