WMF makes an impact on women and girls in our own community.
These are the stories of just a few of the women that WMF has helped this past year. Sometimes all that women need is $50. What may seem like a relatively small amount of money can truly make all the difference for women who have none.
If a woman has been raped, or if her life is at risk, she may be entitled to have her Medical Assistance pay for her procedure. WMF can help women who choose to pursue Medicaid funding for their abortion.
As the stories show, WMF helps women and teens from every walk of life. Their ages range from young adolescents to women nearing menopause. Some teens have their family’s support; others receive a judicial bypass. Some women are married; others are not. Most of the women we help already have children. Some work, some are disabled and some are students. They are white, African-American and Latina. Some have the support of their male partners, others are alone. Some live with domestic violence, some with HIV.
S.K., a 25-year-old mother of three, including 3-year-old twins, was poised to begin a new life. She was about to start classes in a local university’s nursing program, and she was awaiting her first paycheck from her new job as a nurse’s aid. WMF helped her with $50, which enabled her to pursue her dream of independence.
M.S., a 42-year-old woman with children aged 17 and 15, was on the verge of eviction from her home. She was afraid that news of her pregnancy would push her abusive husband over the edge. WMF supported her with $170 toward the cost of her procedure, as well as a referral to the Philadelphia domestic violence help line.
Sixteen-year-old N.B. was afraid to tell her parents about her pregnancy, fearing their violent reaction. She obtained a judicial bypass to circumvent the parental notification law, but still lacked the funds necessary to pay for her abortion. WMF provided $220 to bridge the financial gap she faced.