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Decorated American athlete Allyson Felix has expressed her delight at being among women’s health advocates set to receive $20 million each from Melinda French Gates.
Multiple world and Olympics champion Allyson Felix is among 12 global women’s health and wellbeing advocates set to receive $20 million each from Melinda French Gates.
Melinda Gates revealed on Wednesday that she will donate $1 billion globally over the next two years to help support women and families, including reproductive rights.
That will include $240 million in partnerships with 12 global leaders, including Felix, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Afghan educator and women’s rights advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh, each receiving a $20 million fund.
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19:30 - 29.05.2024
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Felix has become a major voice in advocacy work on Black maternal healthcare and pay equity. She has spoken in front of Congress about racial disparities in maternal health, and her shoe company, Saysh, offers a first of its kind maternity returns policy for women who experience a change in shoe size while pregnant.
The 11-time Olympic medallist could not hide her joy following the announcement, terming it a great opportunity to continue her advocacy work.
“Feeling deeply honoured to join this incredible group in partnership with Melinda French Gates to improve women’s health and wellbeing. Grateful for the opportunity to continue my advocacy through this vital work,” Felix said through a social media post.
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13:00 - 28.05.2024
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“I am excited to distribute my $20M fund to organisations dedicated to urgent, impactful, and innovative efforts in women’s health and wellbeing. Deeply grateful to Melinda French Gates for her unwavering commitment to this cause. More to come.”
Felix, a three-time consecutive 200m world champion, who won 21 gold medals in Olympics and World Championships, retired in November 2023 while expecting her son child, a son named Kenneth Maurice Ferguson III, who was born on April 10.
She became an advocate for maternal health after she experienced complications while expecting her first born daughter in 2018, being forced to deliver her prematurely through emergency C-section.
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20:00 - 11.04.2024
American sprint legend Allyson Felix praises Nike for changing stance on female athletes seven years after fallout
Felix ended her relationship with Nike in 2017 after they failed to guarantee financial protection to expectant female athletes but has praised their decision to change that stance.
Her child was 32 weeks old at the time and had to spend weeks in intensive care, something that opened her eyes on the challenges that women face.
The 38-year-old has also fought strongly against shoe companies that drop female athletes when they become pregnant or force them to take reduced earnings over the same and had a major falling out with Nike in 2019 after she was forced to take less while pregnant.
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