Financial Aid Funding

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we offer three funds to current and former Gabriel Network Moms: the Lorraine Sparling Memorial Educational Fund, the Paula and William O’Brien Transportation Fund, and the T-Baby Fund.

Sparling Educational Fund

Open to current and former Gabriel Network Moms, the fund provides financial aid of up to $2,000 per year to women who wish to continue their education. This includes pursuing higher education or other vocational training. Awarded funds may be used to pay for tuition at a community college/university, professional development classes, certificate programs, or vocational training classes. Up to 25% of the requested financial aid may be used for expenses related to enrolling in a class, such as transportation costs, child care, books, etc. (receipts may be required). The remaining funds will be paid directly to the educational institution/program.

Paula and William O’Brien Transportation Fund

The Transportaion Fund awards current and former Gabriel Network Moms with financial aid to directly help with transportation needs. The Fund will provide for individual aid of $300 per 6-month period. This Fund aims to alleviate some of the financial stress that comes along with an unexpected pregnancy by providing payment for gas, Uber, Lyft, or public transportation.

T-Baby Fund

This Fund was established in memory of a courageous young woman named Theresa whose life was overflowing with challenges when she found herself in an unexpected pregnancy. Her social worker took her for “counseling” at a medical facility in Maryland because she was scared and overwhelmed. She thought this was a follow-up appointment with her doctor, but when she heard words about a procedure, things started to become more clear. 

She processed what she heard and took a deep breath. It seemed God was speaking to her. She then summoned the courage to say with conviction what was in her heart, “You’re not going to kill my baby!” The next courageous step was to share the news with her parents and family. They provided the love and support she and her son needed to help navigate the difficult months and years ahead. 

Not all young women have that level of available support. In Theresa’s memory, her family has established the T-Baby Fund to help strong and courageous women and their children within the Gabriel Network with the basic needs of transitioning to independent living with financial support for home, transportation and childcare payments.

The Fund will provide financial aid of up to $2,000 per year. Awards may be used to pay for things like a security deposit, first month’s rent, child care payments, gas, public transportation (SmarTrip), Uber, Lyft, etc. No cash, check or credit card amount will go directly to the applicant.