The Kuntz 4 Ki6s Foundation provided a $10,000 scholarship on Friday to the bridge scholarship program for Jeremiah’s Place, a 24-7 crisis center for single mothers, and Trying Together. 

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The foundation – which is operated by Steeler Christian Kuntz and his wife, Heather – promotes youth leadership and engagement, fosters mentoring relationships, and supports underserved communities. It also provides holiday joy to single mothers and their children.

While providing a check for the scholarship on Friday, Christian Kuntz told the Big News Network that he had a soft spot for Jeremiah’s Place, which is the city’s only 24-hour crisis nursery that provides emergency child care for families in need.

“We got linked with them a couple years ago through the Steelers for our nonprofit and we’re providing a scholarship of $10,000 that will act as a bridge for the moms to be able to go on job interviews and pursue opportunities that they wouldn’t be able to pursue because of their situation,” Kuntz said.

Kuntz, who grew up with a single mother, added that the scholarship would help about 50 mothers and children.

“With these bridge scholarships from the Kuntz 4 Ki6s Foundation, we hope they are just the kick-off to working together to support more young children and their families,” said Maria Pisano, Trying Together’s director of community relations. “As the lead organization for the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center on Kelly Street, we know first-hand the positive difference that wrap-around supports make for families. As an early childhood advocacy organization, we also work daily to increase access to high-quality child care in our region and statewide.”

The bridge scholarship will be administered based on individual family needs to provide:

• Immediate access to safe care
• Gap funding for child care coverage
• Wraparound stabilization support

“Access to high-quality child care is an ongoing constraint to the stability of families,” said Cara Ciminillo, Trying Together’s executive director. “While public subsidies exist, the process to apply, be approved, and find child care can be lengthy. In the meantime, caregivers often must pause their careers, resulting in delayed or missed job opportunities that contribute to financial instability, and inconsistent care and education arrangements that do not best support their children’s healthy development.”

To learn more, read the Big News Network’s full story.