Elaine Welteroth and Serena Williams Unite for BirthFUND Launch
In a powerful move to address the maternal health crisis disproportionately affecting Black women, acclaimed journalist Elaine Welteroth and legendary tennis champion Serena Williams have joined forces to launch BirthFUND, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving birth outcomes for marginalized communities.
The announcement of the BirthFUND initiative comes on the heels of a poignant op-ed co-written by Welteroth and Williams for TIME magazine. In the piece, the duo shed light on the alarming disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates, particularly among Black women in the United States.
A Deeply Personal Cause for Welteroth and Williams
For Welteroth, the impetus for BirthFUND stemmed from her own eye-opening experiences navigating the healthcare system as a new mother.
“I was somehow still shocked to witness first-hand just how broken the system is,” she shared on Instagram, acknowledging the harsh realities many Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth.
Similarly, Williams’ personal encounter with life-threatening complications during the birth of her daughter Olympia in 2017 served as a wake-up call.
“If that could happen to one of the strongest and most powerful women in the world, what makes any of us safe?” Welteroth recounted, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change.
Leveraging their Platforms for Meaningful Change
Welteroth and Williams’ decision to collaborate on BirthFUND represents a strategic and impactful pairing of their respective platforms and influence.
As a respected journalist and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, Welteroth brings a wealth of experience in storytelling and advocacy. Williams, meanwhile, leverages her status as a global sports icon to amplify the conversation and drive real-time solutions.
“This is legacy work!” Welteroth exclaimed, emphasizing the far-reaching implications of the BirthFUND initiative. With the support of early funders, including Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian, the partners are poised to make tangible strides in improving maternal health outcomes for Black mothers and their families.
A Shared Commitment to Maternal Health Advocacy
Welteroth’s maternal health advocacy journey began with a previous op-ed in TIME, which served as the catalyst for her ongoing work in this space.
Now, with the launch of BirthFUND, she and Williams are taking their efforts to the next level, moving beyond awareness-building to developing real-time solutions that can save lives.
As the BirthFUND initiative takes shape, Welteroth and Williams’ collaborative efforts exemplify the power of women supporting women, particularly in addressing the critical issues that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
This momentous partnership holds the promise of transforming the maternal health landscape for generations to come.
