MWIN & Star Education Partners to Launch Childcare Programs
Military Women In Need launches their pilot childcare programs in response to the top concerns for military women veterans.

Los Angeles, CA – July 22, 2016 – Military Women In Need (MWIN), the only group in Southern California focused solely on women veterans, survivors of veterans, and their children, launches their pilot childcare program in response to the 4 top concerns of military women veterans.  In collaboration with STAR Education, UCLA Foundation, and UCLA Philanthropy Civic Engagement class, MWIN has STAR Summer Day Camp scholarships opportunities available at select LAUSD School campuses (children entering grades K-6^th) for children of qualified women veteran moms that are working or attending school.  For qualified women veterans with children between the ages of 0-5 year olds, MWIN also provides childcare stipends paid directly to licensed care providers.

Los Angeles County has long had the largest concentration of women veterans in the country.  Figures released May 9, 2016 by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority showed homelessness overall had risen 12% in both the city and county since 2013.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans states that Homelessness among women veterans is expected to rise as increasing numbers of women in the military reintegrate into their communities as veterans. Women currently make up 8% of the total veteran population and 14.6% of the active duty military, increasing to an estimated 16% by 2035.

According to CA Department of Veteran Affairs and National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, the top 4 concerns for women veterans are housing, employment, education, and childcare.

“We believe we have a collective duty to serve our women veterans and to honor those who have sacrificed for our freedom.  We heard the call from our women veterans directly from the field and sought to immediately address one of those critical needs - childcare.  We are thrilled to have the support from UCLA Foundation and their students as we begin our partnership with Star Education.  By addressing the childcare issue, we are directly supporting an obstacle for employment or completion of education for women veterans with children – all these efforts contributing towards the prevention of homelessness,” said Ranlyn Hill, the Executive Director of Military Women in Need.

“We are grateful for the support of Military Women In Need as we collaborate to provide more educational opportunities for underprivileged youth in Los Angeles. At STAR Education, our mission is to offer extended educational, recreational, and enrichment programs to students; support and enhance school curriculum; improve student achievement; and expand the cultural base of young people through innovative, quality programs offered by highly qualified instructors,” stated Sir Robinson, representative from STAR Education’s Summer Camps department.

MWIN was awarded $27,310 from UCLA Foundation as part of the UCLA Philanthropy as Civic Engagement Program in March 2016 to launch their childcare.  UCLA students conducted rigorous and competitive screening process, screening 40 nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles.  After multiple rounds, MWIN was hand selected by UCLA students as 1 out of 3 awardees.

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About MWIN
It is the mission of Military Women In Need to empower female veterans, survivors of veterans (widows), and their children to live their lives with independence and dignity.  Through housing assistance, emergency subsidies, resource and referral services, and home visits, Military Women In Need serves those who sacrificed for our freedom. MWIN taps into the strength, resilience, and achievement of women veterans as they overcome the obstacles to transition. MWIN is the only organization in California whose primary purpose is the prevention of homelessness among women veterans and survivors of veterans.

About STAR Education
STAR Education is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization committed to helping students reach their full potential by offering affordable extended academic, recreational and enrichment programs; supporting and enhancing school curricula; inspiring student achievement; and expanding the cultural base of young people. For 25 years, STAR has partnered with schools throughout California to involve students in our innovative, quality programs taught by exceptional, highly-trained instructors.

Media Contact
Mimi Cheung
email: mcheung@militarywomeninneed.org
tel: (310) 441-9635 Ext. 102

Program Contact

Mayra Galeas
email: mgaleas@militarywomeninneed.org
tel: (310) 733-2450

STAR Contact

Sir Robinson

email: camps@starinc.org           
tel: (310) 842-8542