Track and field star Allyson Felix has received a $20 million grant from Melinda French Gates to support Black maternal health organizations. The donation is a part of a broader $1 billion commitment to support people and organizations that provide for women and families. It is managed by Pivotal, Gates’ new venture following her departure from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation after nearly 25 years.
“I’m looking forward to deploying this money to organizations that are doing urgent work in the space and that will really get it to members of the community who are most at risk for complications – I mean even death during pregnancy, and I’m so humbled to receive it and I’m excited to put the money to good work,” Felix said about her plans for the grant.
Felix, who holds a record 20 World Championship medals and 11 Olympic medals, is renowned for her passion for the well-being of pregnant women and commitment to improving Black maternal health. She partnered with Pampers in 2022 to champion maternal health for Black mothers. The company committed $250,000 to the cause and provided $100,000 to the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC) to help Black mothers receive quality care and to reduce maternal mortality rates. The former athlete’s footwear brand Saysh supports women through its maternity returns policy and gives expectant mothers a free pair of shoes since their feet change sizes throughout pregnancy.
The grant will help Felix further advance Black maternal health in the United States. It will tackle pressing concerns such as the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black and Native American mothers, the loss of reproductive health rights, and the lack of national paid family leave in the U.S. Felix is one of 12 other individuals including Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand, who were selected to receive $20 million grants.
Felix’s advocacy for Black maternal health is driven by her personal experiences. She understands the risks many Black women face having experienced severe preeclampsia during her pregnancy. She was diagnosed with this potentially life-threatening complication at 32 weeks pregnant, leading to an emergency C-section. Felix credits her doctor’s swift actions with saving her life and ensuring the safe delivery of her daughter who spent her first month in the neonatal intensive care unit. She now works to educate pregnant and postpartum women about the urgent warning signs of pregnancy-related complications and the importance of self-advocacy.
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The seven time Olympic gold medalist has also teamed up with Pampers to ensure a nursery is available for mothers during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. They have created the first-ever Pampers Nursery, a space for Olympic mothers to bond with, nurse and play with their babies in the Athletes Village, where athletes live during the games. The nursery will help alleviate some of the pressures of competition, that Felix, who holds the record for the most Olympic medals of any U.S. track and field athlete, is familiar well.
“I just knew how difficult it was to compete at the top level after I had my daughter, and some practical things were really hard. And so when I joined the Athletes Commission of the IOC, I really wanted to be that voice for athlete moms, and just take away one less thing for them to worry about in the pressure of competition. I think it really tells women that you can choose motherhood and also be at the top of your game and not have to miss a beat,” Felix explained the importance of the Olympics nursery.
