Celebrating Family: A Story of Love, a Single Parent, and Two Incredible Children

Every March we pause and give a well-deserved nod to single parents everywhere. This same month also celebrates your incredible kids and mine. And, it just so happens that both celebrations land on the same day this year. How fortuitous is that?! Traditionally, the American family is supposed to be mom and dad with 2.5 kids, a dog, a house, a yard, and a car. And sure, some of us fit this bill. However, while we acknowledge this familiar ideal, we also know that family is much more complex than this flat, outdated blueprint. Every single parent and their kids deserve this shout out. What’s more, GrantWatch also knows that there are organizations that offer grant support to those families who depend on one parent rather than two.

A Single Parent and Two Incredible Children.

Sunday afternoons in my home are usually alive with chaos and movement. Nieces, nephews, and countless cousins run this way and that, my mother’s laughter rises from the dining room, and my sister-in-law has laid claim to my kitchen (not that I would argue). Upstairs, I hear my son vow revenge on the friend who bested him in whatever adventure game they’re playing online, and my daughter is sitting on the couch, nose stuck in a book, trying very hard to pretend she’s not related to any of us. This is my home. This is my family. It’s hectic, and messy, and noisy, and wonderful. And, you know what? I couldn’t be happier.

This is a running theme in the story of my family. I’m a single parent with two teenagers, two dogs, two cats, a bird, a fish, and a Nana. We are a typical American family. The story of how my family dynamic came to be is important. It’s our backstory. And, while it holds a significant space in the framework of what makes us a family, it does not solely define us. We don’t forget the good times and bad that shaped us but we don’t want to live there either. After all, the present is much more interesting, don’t you agree? My heart reaches out to all single parents everywhere. We all know how difficult the road can be sometimes. However, we also know, it’s SO worth it!

All the Single Parents and Incredible Kids

The days of cultural backlash over single-parent households are becoming a thing of the past. We need to help expedite the process. How, you ask? It’s really very simple and it involves just two steps.

Perspective: The first step has to do with shifting focus. The stigmatism that surrounds single-parent households is old and outdated, and it simply does not apply to our diverse culture. What if, instead of holding onto antiquated biases, we look beyond them and simply see the individuals within as parts of a greater whole? That is to say, we stop giving circumstance more importance than the human beings who should hold more value in our hearts. A change in perspective; that’s the ticket.

Support: Support comes in so many forms and even the smallest of gestures can mean the world to a single parent having a rough go of it. But to make a substantial difference in the lives of brave, hardworking single parents and their incredible children, it almost always comes down to funding. That’s where grants come in. Funding for individuals, nonprofits, and businesses is available. And it’s not just for single parents and their families either. There is support for all kinds of families. These resources can provide essential relief, ranging from financial assistance to in-kind donations, or emotional support networks.

The following grants are designed to provide support for any family through things like funding for daycare, education, health care, and so much more.

Grants for Families of All Kinds

• To begin, grants to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in eligible regions to address community needs. Priority is given to single parents.
• In addition, grants up to $5,000 to nonprofits, volunteer-led neighborhood groups, and individuals for programs that benefit local residents. Funding is for activities that build, support, and strengthen single-parent families and communities. 
• Low-income families ,ay apply for funding to help pay for childcare services. Eligible recipients include working parents who earn a salary below the child care income limits, unemployed individuals, teen parents attending school or a GED program, and adults who are full-time students.
• Grants to nonprofits for programs to address the mental and physical health of local residents. Particular focus is given to the affordability of healthcare for uninsured and underinsured individuals, the poor, children, single parents, and the elderly. 
• Finally, grants to nonprofits for programs in education, human services, healthcare, and medical research.

More Funding for Diverse American Families

• To continue, grants up to $25,000 to individuals to incentivize employment in local law enforcement. Funding assists individuals who are employed as law enforcement.
• Grants up to $10,000 to nonprofits to address the needs of women and children in eligible locations. Focus areas include self-sufficiency and economic independence and health and safety. 
• Nonprofit organizations may apply for funding to address current and future societal issues. Areas of interest include youth welfare, healthcare initiatives, family services, and educational development.
• Financial assistance is available to families of children with cancer to help offset related costs.
• To conclude, single mothers can apply for grants of $500 for urgent financial assistance.

To conclude: Single parents, incredible kids, and families of every shape and size, we applaud you!

About GrantWatch

Looking for grants? With close to 8,000 grants currently available, GrantWatch.com is the leading grant listing directory. Upgrade to a MemberPlus+ subscription to view the full grant details, including eligibility criteria and application information. For more information, you can also visit the GrantWatch FAQ page, and to see the great value with the top 20 GrantWatch features, click here.