Women and Girls in Soccer (WAGS) announces first-of-its-kind Childcare Grant

Herndon, VA – Women and Girls in Soccer (WAGS) announced the first-of-its-kind WAGS Childcare Grant; an $80,000 fund to be distributed to individual female coaches and semi-pro players to help them stay in the game.

Women and Girls in Soccer is awarding a $1,200 Childcare Grant per recipient, committing $80,000 to empower and support women in soccer for which affording childcare can be a barrier to their ability to stay in the game. Applicants must be a female licensed coach or semi-pro player competing in Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024. The grant will be awarded to female coaches of all levels and female semi-pro players based on the WAGS Childcare Grant application process.

The need-based grant application is simple in order to not further burden working moms. The application opens Monday, May 8, 2023, and will stay open until the fund is depleted. WAGS is thrilled to be the first to address childcare needs for women in soccer and make it possible for women to do both, be a mom and stay in the game.

“Moms spoke, WAGS listened,” Lula Bauer, WAGS Chairwoman stated. “We’ve been hearing from highly skilled coaches that childcare costs are one barrier to moms staying in the game. We know women who feel supported are more likely to stay in the game. That’s why WAGS is so honored to be able to support and empower these brilliant, hard-working moms all over the country by offering the first-of-its kind WAGS Childcare Grant.”

Bauer, a seasoned soccer coach and mom of three, also noted: “Having these funds when I was raising my boys would have been a game changer, it could have helped me bring my child-care provider and my boys to practices and games with me!”

WAGS is a 501 C (3) charitable organization established in Virginia in 2017. Its mission is to provide opportunities to sponsor, develop, or provide educational and character-building programs for the benefit of girls and women through teaching and promoting an interest in the game of soccer.