Did you see this eye-opening primer in the October 22 New York Times on the outsized health risks that racism imposes on U.S. Black women before, during, and after pregnancy? One shocking statistic: “Black women in America have more than a three times higher risk of death related to pregnancy and childbirth than their white peers.” There’s good news, however: Relatively simple interventions can vastly improve outcomes for mothers and infants.

This summer you supported those interventions by funding Black Mamas ATX’s life-saving program for pregnant women and new mothers in Central Texas. Black Mamas has a 100% breastfeeding initiation—an intervention that offers multiple benefits, from improved health and boosted immunity for infants to a lower risk of postpartum depression for women. Your support helped one of Black Mamas’ Sister Doulas, Aphrica, purchase books and enroll in the first two of her four classes toward her training as a birth assistant and as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Thank you for funding a gift that will keep on giving.