New $210,000 Grant Will Connect More Families with Doula and Lactation Support
Philadelphia, PA – Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) has received a three-year Fellowship Grant totaling $210,000 from the Foxwynd Foundation to strengthen MCC’s Community Doula and Lactation Program and advance culturally responsive care for pregnant people and parenting families with children aged 0-3 across Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Community Doula and Lactation Program is a unique, community-based initiative focused on improving access to healthcare for pregnant people before, during, and after birth. Through community-based doula support, lactation services, education, and advocacy, the program respects different cultures, empowers families, and helps improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The three-year Fellowship will strengthen the Community Doula and Lactation Program through strategic investments in staffing, language access, and workforce development including hiring a Bilingual Program Associate, supporting operational and personnel costs for Medicaid Billing, and translation of program materials to Spanish. These investments will strengthen the community health workforce and increase access to culturally responsive care.
Moreover, the grant signifies more than a financial investment. It reflects a shared commitment and partnership between the Foxwynd Foundation and MCC to improve maternal and child health outcomes and advance equitable, community-based, culturally responsive care. Together, MCC and the Foxwynd Foundation are investing in sustainable solutions that meet families where they are and empower them to advocate for themselves and their babies. The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation to MCC.
Samantha Harclerode, Vice President of External Affairs, Maternity Care Coalition (MCC)
“Having support from someone who either shares your lived experience or understands your culture and identity, builds trust and fosters understanding. That connection can help individuals feel more comfortable speaking up. This encourages honest communication and can lead to better birth outcomes for mothers and their babies. Our Community Doula and Lactation Program empowers pregnant people to advocate for themselves and their babies throughout their pregnancy journey. This is at the heart of MCC’s mission. With the Foxwynd Foundation’s support, more families—especially those in historically marginalized communities—will have access to the culturally responsive care they deserve."
Erin Bentley, Grant Committee Member, Foxwynd Foundation
“Every family deserves to feel supported, informed, and cared for during pregnancy and the early years of a child's life. The Community Doula and Lactation Program helps make that possible by providing families with trusted guidance and compassionate support when they need it most. Foxwynd Foundation is honored to support this important work.”
By responding directly to the needs of the community, MCC continues its commitment to advancing health equity and ensuring that every individual, parent, caregiver, and child has the support they need to thrive. For more information about MCC’s programs and services, visit maternitycarecoalition.org or call 215-972-0700.
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Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) is a community-based nonprofit organization serving Pennsylvania and Delaware with over four decades of commitment to improving maternal and child health and early care and education. MCC’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women and parenting families and enhance school readiness for children 0—3. We achieve this through direct service, advocacy, and research, in collaboration with individuals, families, providers, and communities. We envision a future where parents impacted by racial and social inequities can birth with dignity, parent with autonomy, and raise babies who are healthy, growing, and thriving.
Foxwynd Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to improving lives through strategic philanthropy. The Foundation partners with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to support innovative and high-impact initiatives in housing, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Through collaborative partnerships, the Foundation strengthens communities and improves access to essential services. For more information, please visit www.foxwyndfoundation.org.
