Category: Press Releases

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The Future of Fatherhood Summit Makes History: Tens of Thousands Come Together to Reimagine Modern Masculinity, Paid Leave, and Gender Equity

Hosted by Moms First and Equimundo, the Summit Drew National Attention—and Launched a New Campaign to Close the Fatherhood Leave Gap

Tune into the full live stream at momsfirst.us/fatherhood

Future of fatherhood summit

Download event images here

Photo credits: Jessica Bal

NEW YORK, NY — On June 5, 2025, Moms First and Equimundo convened the inaugural Future of Fatherhood Summit at The Times Center in New York City. The sold-out event brought together cultural icons, researchers, business leaders, and policymakers to reimagine modern fatherhood in America—and spotlight real solutions to one of today’s most urgent and overlooked challenges: disconnection.

The summit welcomed over 300 guests in person and tens of thousands of virtual viewers across the U.S. The event featured dynamic, solutions-oriented conversations on topics ranging from paid leave and workplace policy to boys’ mental health, caregiving stigma, and the future of masculinity.

Featured Panels included:

  • [12:28] – Opening Remarks from Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Moms First and Founder of Girls Who Code
  • [20:25] – The Challenges of Modern Boyhood with Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, on tech’s impact on modern boyhood
  • [42:06] – Redefining Masculinity in 2025 with Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia, on Gen Z and internet culture in 2025
  • [2:58:31] – Making Workplaces Work for Dads with Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, on caregiving as a leadership imperative
  • [3:34:46] – Raising Boys and Ourselves with Dr. Becky Kennedy, psychologist and founder of Good Inside, on fostering emotionally healthy boys

One of the major announcements at the summit was the launch of a new national campaign by Moms First to close the fatherhood leave gap, powered by PaidLeave.AI. Building on groundbreaking research with McKinsey, which revealed nearly 90% of Dads are eligible for their state’s paid parental leave but only 25% take it, Moms First partnered with Blue Rose Research to understand what actually motivates eligible fathers to take time off. The findings were clear: the most persuasive messages centered around connection—bonding with their child, supporting their partner’s recovery, and modeling care for the next generation.

The campaign will launch in New York, California, New Jersey, and Colorado, meeting dads where they are—on search and social platforms—and guiding them through the benefits they qualify for with PaidLeave.AI, an AI-powered tool designed to simplify the paid leave process. It will run in tandem with the ongoing campaign for moms, which has already engaged 100,000 parents, or nearly 1 in 5 eligible parents who haven’t utilized parental leave in those states.

“This summit was about more than just fatherhood—it was about connection,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “This is the beginning of a new model of dads and moms working together to transform our systems, so that every family can truly thrive. And we’re starting with a campaign aimed at getting more dads to claim the paid leave benefits they deserve.”

The Future of Fatherhood Summit was made possible by the generous support of Equimundo, Walton Family Foundation, The Adecco Group US Foundation, Sparrow, Progyny, MAKERS by Yahoo, and Bobbie for Change.

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About Moms First
Moms First is a national nonprofit transforming workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms—and all caregivers—to thrive. With a grassroots movement of over one million moms and supporters, Moms First advocates for paid leave, affordable child care, and equal pay. www.momsfirst.us

About Equimundo
Equimundo works globally to promote gender equality and social justice by engaging men and boys as partners in advancing care, equity, and wellbeing for all. www.equimundo.org

For press inquiries, contact: brittany@momsfirst.us.

 

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Marie Claire & Moms First Celebrate Inaugural Power Moms List


The Star-Studded Ceremony Took Place on May 7 at Café Carmellini in New York City

Power Moms Honorees Included: Gabrielle Union, Kali Uchis, Deepika Padukone, Cherelle Griner, Olympia Gayot and Bobbie Co-Founders Laura Modi and Sarah Hardy

Presenters & Speakers Included: Nikki Ogunnaike, Reshma Saujani, Michelle Ruiz, Deirdre Maloney, Cheryl Gregory and Sade Lythcott

Sponsors Included: Carolina Herrera Fragrance, Katie Kime, Glo2Facial by Geneo, EltaMD Skin Care, PCA SKIN, MAM baby and Dagne Dover

Download event images here

Photo credits: Breanna Johnson & Madeleine Thomas / BFA.com

 

NEW YORK, NY, May 8, 2025 – Last night Future’s premium women’s lifestyle brand Marie Claire and national nonprofit Moms First celebrated the inaugural Power Moms List recognizing seven women across entertainment, fashion, and business who are redefining what it means to be a mother and a leader.

Co-hosted by Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire U.S. Editor in Chief, and Reshma Saujani, Founder of both Moms First and Girls Who Code, the awards ceremony ​followed the earlier unveiling of Marie Claire‘s first-ever digital Motherhood Issue, formally announcing the full list of Power Moms and debuting three covers, each showcasing a separate honoree: actress and entrepreneur Gabrielle Union, singer-songwriter Kali Uchis, and award-winning actress, producer and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone.

The additional Power Moms honorees include Bobbie infant formula Co-Founders Laura Modi and Sarah Hardy, attorney Cherelle Griner, and Creative Director and Head of Design at J.Crew Olympia Gayot.

By partnering with Moms First for the Motherhood Issue and Power Moms list, Marie Claire is helping to celebrate and honor what it means to be a modern mom in America, documenting the real impact mothers of all ages and stages have had in shaping their individual families, the workforce and the future.

“At Marie Claire, we spotlight the women moving culture forward – and we know you can’t tell the story of progress without telling the story of moms,” said Marie Claire Editor in Chief Nikki Ogunnaike. “The Power Moms are a diverse group of actors, activists, business leaders, and musicians who, despite their different fields, have one thing in common: motherhood isn’t a limitation, it’s part of their legacy.”

“Women are sold a false choice: be a tradwife or a girlboss,” explains Founder of Moms First and Girls Who Code Reshma Saujani. “Choose your family or your ambition. But most moms will tell you — their reality is somewhere in the middle. At Moms First, that’s exactly what we fight for every day: the cultural and structural support we need like paid leave, affordable childcare, and the ability to move in and out of the work force without penalty.”

Following cocktails and opening remarks, an intimate dinner and awards ceremony took place where Power Moms honorees accepted their awards and shared inspiring stories of motherhood with an audience of influential moms breaking barriers and creating a brighter future across their own industries. The glass Power Moms awards featured an etching of Back Home, original art by Voltz Clarke Gallery artist and mom of three Katy Ferrarone.

Visit Marie Claire to view the digital Motherhood Issue and check out the latest coverage around this year’s Power Moms here.

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MORE INFORMATION:

Instagram: @Momsfirstus, @MarieClaireMag

About Moms First:

Moms First is a national non-profit organization fighting for America’s moms founded by Reshma Saujani, who is also the founder of Girls Who Code. Moms First organization is dedicated to advancing policies that support moms, like affordable child care and paid family leave, while spearheading a movement to reposition motherhood and these policies as economic imperatives that allow families to thrive. Cultural change and building a movement is central to the organization’s work. Moms First events, campaigns and thought leadership break through the noise to garner national media attention, shape the cultural and political zeitgeist, and mobilize America’s moms and allies to become activists on these issues.

www.momsfirst.us

About Marie Claire, a Future Company:

Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women’s lives. Reaching millions of readers every month through print, digital, video, and social platforms, Marie Claire is known for its fashion and beauty coverage, award-winning features, buzzy interviews, and more. www.marieclaire.com

Media Inquiries/Hi-res Image Requests: ​PR@futurenet.com

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Research reveals paid leave paradox: parents love it but don’t know they can get it

Moms First & McKinsey study reveals 60% of parents don’t know about state paid leave programs, leaving up to $10,000 per parent in unclaimed benefits

Recommendations include using AI tools like Paidleave.AI to unlock full potential of paid leave

NEW YORK, NY (February 26, 2025) – Moms First, a national nonprofit organization fighting for America’s moms and families, and McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, today released first-of-its-kind research into state paid parental leave programs. The research reveals a surprising paradox: families are almost twice as likely to be satisfied with state paid leave compared to other state benefits, but are less likely to use it than other comparable benefits due to low awareness. The full report is available at https://momsfirst.us/paid-leave-report.

Paid family leave is one of the most effective public policy tools for improving child development outcomes, increasing lifetime earnings for women and families, and helping businesses attract and retain top talent.[1] Yet, across the states analyzed, only two out of five eligible parents used any state paid parental leave in 2022, a benefit worth $6,000-10,000 per parent that did not use any leave. This is more than double the value of the 2021 pandemic-era child tax credit that cut child poverty in half.[2]

“We’re seeing a disconnect between how much families value paid leave and their ability to actually use it,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO at Moms First. “That’s why we’ve developed Paidleave.AI, using artificial intelligence to help bridge this gap between policy and practice. Our goal is to improve the durability of state paid family leave programs and to grow a national constituency of supporters for the policy.”

“Research into paid leave usage has been hindered by the fragmented landscape of state-level policies, differences between types of leave, and the evolving role of employers. Our work with Moms First aimed to bridge this gap by examining paid parental leave in three of the largest states with long-standing policies,” said Ramya Parthasarathy, a Partner in McKinsey & Company’s New York office. “The study provides an unprecedented review of who uses paid family leave, their satisfaction, and how to reduce barriers to fully accessing its benefits – and it ultimately shows that having good legislation isn’t enough – implementation is critical.”

The first-of-its-kind analysis of U.S. Census and state claims data revealed surprising insights about paid leave eligibility and usage, including:

  • Women are significantly less likely to be eligible, due in part to women’s lower labor force participation.
  • Men are about 25 percentage points more likely to be eligible—but 25 percentage points less likely to use the benefit. As a result, men account for the majority of total weeks of unused parental leave benefits.
  • Lower-wage workers are less likely to qualify because of employment and wage eligibility requirements, even though they and their children might benefit most. People earning less than $40,000 per year are less than half as likely to use state leave as those earning more than $100,000.

A follow-up survey of 2,000 new parents also revealed key barriers to paid leave usage:

  • Awareness gaps: Nearly 60 percent of the survey respondents who were eligible for state PPL but did not use did not know it was available to them.
  • Complexity of requirements and applications: Though parents were almost twice as likely to be more satisfied with state paid family leave than with other state benefits on average, satisfaction was lowest when learning about paid family leave, determining eligibility, and submitting applications.
  • Employer support: employers are a key source of knowledge of state paid parental leave, and there’s a big opportunity to improve the support that smaller employers offer their employees navigating paid leave.
  • Economic and career considerations: Over two-thirds of those who did not take leave feared job losses or career setbacks. These concerns rank highest for low wage earners, who are also more likely to say they couldn’t afford to take paid family leave
  • Societal beliefs: The most prevalent belief among men, the greatest source of underutilization, is that they did not need to take leave if their partners were taking it.

The research points to recommendations for public engagement, technology, employers, and state governments to improve access to paid leave. In particular, innovative tools such as Paidleave.AI can provide 24/7, one-on-one personalized support to help parents overcome the complexity of paid leave eligibility requirements and applications in a preferred language.

Paidleave.AI is a free custom AI chatbot from Moms First to help parents navigate state paid leave benefits. Launched in December 2023, the tool has helped tens of thousands of parents understand and navigate their benefits, resulting in potentially tens of millions of dollars in paid leave benefits for working families. The chatbot is possible thanks to generous support from major funders including Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Capital One, and Robin Hood Foundation.

“I’ve worked for fifty years connecting technology with good customer service, trying to help tech providers treat people as we want to be treated,” said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “Working families really could use a little help, like paid leave, and Paidleave.AI is the real thing, a way to put money into parents’ pockets to raise their families.”

“Paid leave is a powerful tool to improve economic outcomes for women and families, but in order to realize its benefits, we need more parents to know about and access these policies,” said Loris Toribio, Robin Hood’s Director of Economic and Fiscal Policy. “We’re excited to support not only more research into how parents are using paid leave, but also practical tools like Paidleave.AI with the potential to improve uptake of this critical policy.”

“Policies like paid leave help hardworking families make ends meet, yet not enough eligible parents are claiming their benefits,” said Kerone Vatel, Head of Community Impact & Investment at Capital One. “Our support for Paidleave.AI is designed to make paid leave more accessible to families who need it most and to showcase how new technologies can remove barriers for working parents and return money to their wallets.”

To date, research has yielded few answers into paid leave eligibility, utilization, and experience, given the patchwork of state policies, variations among parental and other forms of family leave, and the evolving role of employers. New research by Moms First and McKinsey looked at three of the largest states with the longest-standing PFL policies. Based on a first-of-its-kind analysis of census and state claims data, along with a survey of more than 2,000 new parents, we got an unprecedented look at who is using paid family leave and why, how satisfied they are with it, and how to reduce barriers to its many benefits. To download a copy of the report, visit https://momsfirst.us/paid-leave-report.

Moms First and McKinsey will unveil the new research and recommendations at an event at Columbia University’s School for International Policy and Public Affairs. The event, titled “Making Benefits Work: Research, Policy, Technology, and the Future of Paid Leave” will take place on February 26, 2025 from 4-7pm and feature a discussion on the latest in paid leave research and policy change and a conversation on how innovative technology, including artificial intelligence, can help address some of the main challenges in government service delivery. To register for the event or to view a livestream, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/livestream-making-benefits-work-the-future-of-paid-leave-tickets-1245427249429.

About Moms First

Moms First is fighting for America’s moms. Our mission is to win paid leave and child care as economic imperatives that allow families to thrive. Our vision is a country that values motherhood and supports moms and families. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

About McKinsey & Company

McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm committed to helping organizations accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth. We work with clients across the private, public, and social sectors to solve complex problems and create positive change for all their stakeholders. We combine bold strategies and transformative technologies to help organizations innovate more sustainably, achieve lasting gains in performance, and build workforces that will thrive for this generation and the next.

[1]BPC, Kozak K, Greaves A, Waldfogel J, et al., Goldin, Claudia, and Joshua Mitchell, NPWF, BPC

[2]Census, CBPP

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Moms First calls on President Trump to give families a tax cut for child care

National campaign highlights high costs of child care in flashy new billboards & petition

Non-profit also releases national survey showing overwhelming bipartisan support for tax cuts for child care

NEW YORK, NY (January 27, 2025) – Moms First, a national nonprofit organization fighting for America’s moms and families, today announced a national campaign calling on President Trump and the new Congress to give families a tax cut for child care. The campaign builds on the non-profit’s work to make child care affordability an economic priority in the 2024 Presidential election and asks the new Administration to fulfill campaign promises to address the rising costs of child care as part of its upcoming tax policy bill.

Families across the United States, who are already struggling to afford necessities like groceries and gas, are now coming up against child care that costs more than rent. In fact, the cost of child care has risen at nearly twice the rate of inflation and is more expensive than rent in all 50 states. As of last year, 55% of parents in the U.S. go into debt due to child care.

To highlight the overwhelming cost of child care at a time when the cost of living is high, and build loud public support for President Trump and Congress to prioritize a tax cut for child care, Moms First is running a national campaign across physical and digital platforms. The campaign includes provocative billboards in six cities with some of the nation’s highest child care costs – New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, and Philadelphia PA – comparing the cost of child care to the cost of local foods, gas, and rent. The campaign will also activate a range of parent influencers and partner brands and call for tens of thousands of families to sign a letter to Trump asking for a tax cut for child care at www.momsfirst.us/childcare.

Sample billboard image from Moms First

“This election made clear that American families are fed up with the high cost of living, and their biggest costs are child care,” said Reshma Saujani, the Founder and CEO of Moms First. “Moms and families want their leaders to address the cost of child care, and President Trump and the new Congress have the chance to give families a tax cut for child care as part of their upcoming tax policy bill. We hope the new Administration will make good on their campaign promises and help working families who are just trying to make ends meet.”

The campaign follows newly released data from a national survey that shows overwhelming bipartisan support for Congressional action to address child care costs. The survey was conducted by Moms First and third-party polling firm Echelon Insights from December 15-22, 2024 of 1,526 registered voters and oversamples of voters who are parents of kids under age 18. The findings validate strong voter interest in Congressional action on child care, including:

  • 84% of voters think Congress should do something to make child care more affordable – including 78% of Republicans, 82% of Independents, and 91% of Democrats
  • But only 42% of voters believe most Republicans in Congress care about making child care more affordable – including 65% of Republicans, 32% of Independents, 24% of Democrats
  • 79% of voters support increasing tax credits parents can receive for child care –  including 75% of Republicans, 78% of Independents, and 85% of Democrats

The tax cut for child care – officially known as The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) –  is the only tax credit that specifically helps working parents offset the cost of child care. Yet it hasn’t been updated since 2001 and, as a result, most families receive less than $600 per year at a time when child care costs on average $11,600 per year.[1] With major provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expiring in 2025, Congress has an opportunity to increase the tax cut for child care and better support working families in the face of rising costs.

“As Vice President Vance said during the campaign, ‘we need to spend more money’ on child care. These tax cuts for child care are the first of many investments needed to address the child care crisis, and we look forward to advocating for more significant and sustained federal investments outside the tax code later this year,” said Saujani.

About Moms First

Moms First is fighting for America’s moms. Our mission BG is to win paid leave and child care as economic imperatives that allow families to thrive. Our vision is a country that values motherhood and supports moms and families. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

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After viral New York pilot, Paidleave.ai expands nationally to increase paid family leave adoption

 

First of its kind generative AI tool helps working families access unclaimed state paid family leave benefits 

Moms First CEO & Founder Reshma Saujani to announce national expansion at Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting as bipartisan issue gains prominence in presidential election campaigns

 

NEW YORK – September 24, 2024 – Today, Moms First, the national non-profit organization dedicated to transforming our workplaces, our communities, and our culture to enable moms in America, is announcing the national expansion of its signature initiative, Paidleave.ai, at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. Moms First CEO & Founder Reshma Saujani is joining the global convening to announce the expansion and the launch of a national campaign to promote the tool and increase adoption rates of state paid family leave programs.

“Our Paidleave.ai pilot in New York proved that generative AI can make government more accessible and also boost benefit access for working families,” said Moms First Founder and CEO Reshma Saujani. “Now, we’re expanding Paidleave.ai nationally to not only to increase paid family leave adoption in states that have it but also to build a political constituency for paid leave and ensure durability of the policy nationwide.”

Paid leave has been a top bipartisan economic issue for voters and working families ahead of the presidential election. Decades of research shows that paid family leave programs can be a powerful driver of economic growth and improved maternal and child health outcomes. In the last decade, as national paid family leave has stalled, states have taken up the gauntlet. Nine states and Washington, DC have paid family leave programs, with four more states beginning to pay benefits in the next few years. While these programs are broadly popular, they’re severely underutilized with fewer than five percent of eligible workers claiming their paid family leave benefits due to low awareness and complicated application processes.

“As a woman of color, I know first hand how paid family leave is intrinsically connected to racial and economic equity,” said Saujani. “Even in states with paid leave policies, confusing applications combined with a lack of knowledge about paid leave benefits only exacerbate existing inequities that disproportionately impact moms of color. Our hope is that Paidleave.ai helps reduce common barriers to access for working families.”

Moms First launched Paidleave.ai in December 2023 with support from OpenAI, Novy AI, and Craig Newmark Philanthropies to help parents in New York state access and apply for paid family leave benefits. The first-of-its kind generative AI chatbot helps parents and companies in New York understand and navigate the state’s paid leave program, addressing the root causes of low utilization and helping families claim their benefits. The New York pilot was widely successful, generating 100 Million press impressions, 25,000 visits in the first month, and a 25 percent increase in Google searches for “paid leave” in the United States, all critical leading indicators that point to an increase in access and adoption rates.

Following the success of its pilot, Moms First is expanding Paidleave.ai nationally to include all nine states plus Washington DC with live paid family leave programs: California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. The national version of the free customized AI chatbot will help parents and companies in those states understand benefits, access their eligibility, and navigate the application process. Paidleave.ai is built using OpenAI’s API and is trained on verified resources about paid family leave programs so that it can offer comprehensive guidance while limiting hallucinations and false information. To increase accessibility, the tool is now available in 26 languages.

In addition to its product expansion, Moms First is also launching a national campaign called “Paid Leave Pays” designed to reach eligible low and moderate income moms in states with live paid family leave programs. The campaign, which will run on digital platforms through the end of the year and target low-to-moderate income moms, will meet eligible moms where they are and help increase awareness of paid family leave programs, direct moms to Paidleave.ai to understand their eligibility, and guide them through the application process if they’re eligible.

Paidleave.ai was developed with early technical assistance and partnership from OpenAI and Novy AI and with major support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Capital One, and Robin Hood Foundation.

“Paidleave.ai is a great model for AI for customer service, not only for public service, but everywhere regular people need a hand,” said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “Moms First is a serious leader in AI for good, and I’m really happy to support their efforts.”

“Moms First is using groundbreaking tools to put money back in the pockets of hardworking low- and moderate-income individuals in a way that helps to relieve stress,” said Kerone Vatel, Head of Community Impact & Investment at Capital One. “Our support for Paidleave.ai is helping make paid leave more accessible and redefining how AI can be used to propel the delivery of economic benefits to working parents.”

“Paid leave is one of our best-studied public policy tools to fight poverty and improve maternal and health outcomes. Yet so few mothers and caretaking workers are benefitting from this policy in states like New York, where utilization remains shockingly low,” said Jason Cone, Chief of Public Policy and Advocacy at Robin Hood. “We’re thrilled to support Paidleave.ai in its work to increase uptake of paid family leave benefits in New York and nationally and learn how we can apply innovative technology like AI to increase benefit access for working families.”

About Moms First
Moms First is a national nonprofit leading the fight for America’s moms. We are driven by our belief that motherhood is the unfinished business of gender equality. Our community of 1.1 million moms is fighting for a world where moms are valued and supported in our workplaces, communities, and culture. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

Media Contact
Aly Ferguson
press@gwcmpmstage.wpengine.com

 

 

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Moms First teamed up with partners to mobilize thousands of moms and allies to successfully urge CNN to ask about child care at the debate

 

NEW YORK, NY (June 28, 2024) – Last night, at the urging of Moms First and nearly 15,000 moms and allies, the presidential debate moderators asked the candidates about child care at the first debate of the 2024 election. In a victory for American families, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked President Biden and former President Trump how they would lower child care costs for American families, citing a new report that found that the average cost of child care for two children is now higher than the average cost of rent in all 50 states.

“For too long, child care has been seen as a personal issue that moms must solve on their own – not as an economic issue that is required for women to work. The reality is, the cost of child care — the cost of motherhood — has become untenable. And no family should be forced into debt to pay for child care,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “Last night, CNN made it clear that the voices of moms matter by asking the candidates about their plan to address child care costs. Moms First and the 15,000 moms who signed our petition successfully elevated child care to the national stage. Now, we need our candidates to actually answer us.”

Saujani: “When asked directly about their plans to lower child care costs, both candidates spent the majority of the time bickering and only President Biden briefly addressed the question — leaving millions of moms and families out to dry. Moms First is disappointed that our presidential candidates failed to acknowledge the seriousness of our child care crisis and its impact on American mothers. As candidates vie for votes this election season, they should not underestimate the power of moms. We are a powerful constituency that cannot be ignored. And we deserve real, substantive solutions to this crisis.”

Moms First teamed up with Blue Star Families, Bobbie, Care.com, Count on Mothers, Equimundo, Fair Play Policy Institute, Happiest Baby, LIFT, National Association for Family Child Care, National Parents Union, Red Wine and Blue, ROE v BROS, The Mom Project, Share Our Strength, and Vivvi on the petition, demonstrating the power of collective action in our efforts to solve the child care crisis.

About Moms First

Moms First is a national, nonprofit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of 1.1 million moms and supporters is dedicated to changing the story of the American experience of motherhood and finishing the fight for gender equality in our country by winning the support that moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

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Moms First Summit Makes History: Thousands of Moms Come Together to Finish the Fight for Gender Equality

 

NEW YORK, NY (May 17, 2024) – Moms First, the national nonprofit organization advocating for moms, hosted its inaugural Moms First Summit on Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, in partnership with Share Our Strength. The event marked a significant milestone in the movement for mothers’ rights, reimagined the narrative around motherhood in America, and garnered unprecedented support and enthusiasm from attendees both in-person and via livestream.

The Moms First Summit brought together over 350 influential mothers and changemakers from across the country at The Times Center in New York City, and the livestream was viewed 12,000 times throughout the event from supporters in 49 states and multiple countries across the globe. The gathering served as a platform for open dialogue, impassioned discussions, hopeful solutions, and groundbreaking announcements aimed at addressing the pressing challenges facing mothers in America today.

“Motherhood is the unfinished business of gender equality, and at the Moms First Summit we mobilized thousands of moms to join together to finish the job once and for all,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “There’s room for all of us in this fight: moms of color, single moms, moms who work and moms who don’t, people who want to be moms, and people who don’t. And when we come together, we are a force.”

For the first time, we brought together the most powerful moms, women, and allies who are calling for the structural changes moms need to thrive to reshape the national conversation about motherhood. Hillary Clinton, Sam Altman, Dr. Becky Kennedy, Tarana Burke, Geena Davis, Elaine Welteroth, Emily Oster, Secretary Gina Raimondo, Alexis McGill Johnson, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Moira Forbes, Governor Kathy Hochul, Ashley Judd, Astronaut Christina Koch, Katie Couric, Olivia Walton, Craig Newmark, and many others who are at the forefront of these fights spoke to why it is hard to be a mom in our country. They laid out real solutions to how we win the fights for paid leave, affordable child care, and equal pay — the structural supports moms need to thrive.

Among the key highlights of the Moms First Summit was the announcement of a transformative seven-figure contribution from Capital One and Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support the expansion of PaidLeave.ai, a groundbreaking generative AI tool aimed at revolutionizing access to paid family leave benefits for working families across the country. Additionally, Moms First unveiled the next chapter of its grassroots movement, The Motherhood, which seeks to mobilize its community of 1.1 million moms and supporters to change the story on the American experience of motherhood and reshape society to deliver what modern mothers deserve in our communities, our workplaces, and our culture. Moms and supporters were invited to join The Motherhood in the closing session of the Summit by visiting momsfirst.us/motherhood.

Saujani: “After decades of this work, I know as well as anyone that progress isn’t always linear.

But I’m hopeful. I know we can win paid leave and affordable child care. I know we can build a better world for moms.”

Business leaders, philanthropists, working moms, stay at home moms, social media influencers, advocates, and allies joined together to share their stories of motherhood both on and off the stage. Attendees left with “mom” temporary tattoos from fashion designer Maya Hogan, who graduated from Pratt Institute the next morning.

The Moms First Summit, in partnership with Share Our Strength, was made possible by financial support from the Walton Family Foundation, Rebecca and Cal Henderson, Kate Spade New York, PwC, Bobbie, and HireTalent, and in-kind support from Charriol, Lyft, and Smart Sitting. Moms First is grateful for Forbes’ media partnership and InStyle’s editorial collaboration on the Summit.

To replay the entire Moms First Summit, visit momsfirstsummit.us.

About Moms First: 

Moms First is a national, nonprofit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

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The Moms First Summit Convenes the Most Powerful Moms in America to Finish the Fight for Gender Equality

Hosted by Moms First, the Summit Seeks to Unite and Empower Mothers to Transform their Workplaces, Communities, and Culture so Moms Can Thrive

 

NEW YORK, NY (May 14, 2024) – Today, Moms First, the national nonprofit organization advocating for moms, will convene the inaugural Moms First Summit, in partnership with Share Our Strength, aimed at revolutionizing the narrative around motherhood and empowering moms across the nation.

On the heels of Mothers Day, the Moms First Summit will feature some of the most influential women, moms, and allies in America — including Hillary Clinton, Sam Altman, Dr. Becky Kennedy, Tarana Burke, Geena Davis, Elaine Welteroth, Emily Oster, Secretary Gina Raimondo, Alexis McGill Johnson, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Moira Forbes, Ashley Judd, Astronaut Christina Koch, Katie Couric, Olivia Walton, Craig Newmark, and more — coming together for the first time to reshape the national conversation about motherhood and forge a new political identity for moms. The event will convene 375 people in New York City and will be live streamed to Moms First’s community of 1.1 million moms and supporters and the public.

“By convening the most powerful moms in America, we’ll bring motherhood to the place it’s always belonged: at the heart of the fight for gender equality,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First. “Our country loves to divide moms — whether it’s working moms vs. stay at home moms, black moms vs. white moms or breastfeeding moms vs. formula feeding moms — there are so few opportunities for solidarity among mothers in America. Moms First is changing the story of the American experience of motherhood. Today at the Moms First Summit, we are creating a new identity around motherhood — one that transcends individual experiences and fosters a sense of collective empowerment and community.”

The Summit’s program will address a wide range of issues, including lack of paid leave and affordable child care, the gender pay gap and motherhood penalty, shrinking reproductive health access and the Black maternal health crisis, growing mental health challenges, and more. Through panel discussions and fireside chats, the Summit will explore the challenges facing mothers today, highlight innovative solutions being championed by the most influential women, mothers, and allies in their industries, and lift up opportunities for collective action. Summit attendees will gain valuable insights, forge meaningful connections, and catalyze action within their communities, workplaces, and homes to win the structural supports moms need to thrive: paid leave, child care, and equal pay.

Saujani: “Never before have this many mothers come together to fight — not for our children or our communities — but for ourselves. Together, by bringing motherhood to the forefront, we will finish the fight for gender equality.”

The Moms First Summit, in partnership with Share Our Strength, is made possible by financial support from the Walton Family Foundation, Rebecca and Cal Henderson, Kate Spade New York, PwC, Bobbie, and HireTalent, and in-kind support from Charriol, Lyft, and Smart Sitting. Moms First is grateful for Forbes’ media partnership and InStyle’s editorial collaboration on the Summit.

For more information and to register for the livestream, visit momsfirstsummit.us.

About Moms First: 

Moms First is a national, nonprofit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

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At Inaugural Moms First Summit, Capital One and Craig Newmark Philanthropies Announce Major Gifts to Expand PaidLeave.ai, Revolutionizing Access to Paid Family Leave Benefits

Transformative grants are first of their kind for AI as a public sector solution

 

NEW YORK, NY – May 14, 2024 – Today, at the inaugural Moms First Summit in New York City, Capital One and Craig Newmark Philanthropies announced a transformative seven-figure contribution to support the expansion of PaidLeave.ai, an innovative generative AI tool developed by Moms First. The grant is believed to be the first of its kind to fund an AI tool for social benefits. With the expansion, PaidLeave.ai aims to revolutionize access to paid family leave benefits for millions of families across the United States.

Despite the proven benefits of paid family leave in alleviating poverty and improving economic, social, and health outcomes for women and families, utilization rates of state paid leave programs remain alarmingly low. Data shows that in states with long-standing paid leave programs, only 3-5 percent of eligible workers take advantage of these benefits. This gap is attributed to a number of barriers including low awareness among eligible employees and employers, complex and confusing applications, and social stigmas.

PaidLeave.ai addresses these challenges head-on by utilizing cutting-edge generative AI technology to streamline the application process and enhance understanding of paid leave policies. Through an intuitive chatbot interface, the platform assists users in determining eligibility, estimating benefits, and navigating the application process.

Since its launch in New York in December 2023, PaidLeave.ai has garnered significant traction, with over 100,000,000 press impressions and 25,000 unique visitors in its first month alone. Moreover, the pilot generated a 25% increase in Google search traffic for paid leave, indicating high demand for new approaches to benefit accessibility and information.

Building on this success with support from Capital One and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Moms First is expanding PaidLeave.ai in 2024 with a focus on product optimization, awareness campaigns, community partnerships, employer engagement, lobbying efforts, and impact measurement. By leveraging these strategies, Moms First aims to increase the uptake of paid leave benefits, particularly among low-income workers, and improve economic outcomes for moms, families, and communities.

“We are thrilled to support Moms First and their use of innovative technology to expand PaidLeave.ai to make paid family leave benefits more accessible to all and provide opportunities for working parents to stay in the workforce,” said Kerone Vatel, Head of Community Impact and Investing, Capital One. “This initiative builds on our longstanding commitment to advance socioeconomic mobility and close gaps in access and opportunity for low- and moderate-income individuals and communities.”

“As AI transforms everything about the way we live and work, we must ensure that we’re using AI for good and applying this technology to our toughest social challenges,” said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “We are proud to partner with Moms First in their efforts to prove that transformative new technology can benefit all of us, not just a privileged few.”

“Moms First is a mission to win paid leave and affordable child care for as many moms in as many places as possible. And if we are going to win these fights, we need to do things differently — we need to innovate,” said Moms First Founder and CEO, Reshma Saujani. “PaidLeave.ai is a test case of how we can use innovation like generative AI to make government work better for all of us and ensure that our most vulnerable communities are benefiting from new technology.”

PaidLeave.ai was developed in collaboration with AI development firm Novy.ai and with early support and technical advice from OpenAI.

For more information, contact:

Aly Ferguson

Moms First

aly@momsfirst.com

About Moms First

Moms First is a national, nonprofit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including child care, paid leave, and equal pay. Learn more at momsfirst.us.

About Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer and philanthropist, best known for creating the online classified ads service craigslist. Craig’s full-time philanthropic work focuses on organizations on the frontlines of protecting America’s security and democracy. He has given more than $300 million in support of veterans and military families, trustworthy journalism and civic engagement campaigns, cyber security education programs, hunger relief, and pigeon rescue. Craig was influenced by his Sunday School teachers who escaped the Holocaust, set his moral compass, and taught him to treat people like you want to be treated – and how to know when enough is enough. He stepped away from the day-to-running of craigslist almost two decades ago, but he still occasionally volunteers as a customer service representative.

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Childcare Benefits More Than Pay for Themselves

  • New Report from Moms First and BCG Reveals that US Employers Investing in Childcare Benefits Experience Positive Returns on Investment Ranging from 90% to 425%
  • Retaining as Few as 1% of Eligible Employees Can Cover the Cost of Childcare Benefits for All Who Are Eligible Within the Company
  • Employer-Provided Childcare Benefits Can Help Employees Avoid More than Two Weeks of Absences Annually

 

WASHINGTON, DC, March 26, 2024—Just 12% of all US workers have access to childcare benefits through their employer, a figure that drops to 6% for people who work part-time or are in the lowest income quartile. However, as revealed by a landmark new report being released today by Moms First and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), titled The Employee Benefit That Pays for Itself, companies that effectively invest in childcare benefits are seeing positive returns on investment ranging from 90% to 425%.

The research behind the report includes financial analysis, personal interviews, and survey responses from nearly 1,000 US-based employees at five companies in industries including e-commerce, retail, hospitality, financial services, and supply chain management: Etsy, Fast Retailing, Steamboat Ski Resort, Synchrony, and United Parcel Service (UPS). The study covers an array of childcare benefit strategies, including onsite or near-site facilities for regular use, backup services such as last-minute or drop-in care, and stipends for parents to help pay for their own arrangements. In all five scenarios studied, returns are positive.

“The lack of quality, affordable childcare in the US is a crisis for working families, 40% of whom are in debt because of the cost of childcare. Our economy depends on care—without it, women cannot work,” said Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First and a coauthor of the report. “Until now, we lacked the data that demonstrated a clear return on investment for companies that provide childcare benefits. That ends today. This report with BCG is proof that childcare benefits not only pay for themselves, but also make financial and strategic sense, creating an advantage for businesses that step up and make the investment in their employees.”

Many companies have held off offering childcare benefits, perceiving them as strictly a cost center; however, according to the report’s findings, companies that effectively invest in childcare benefits are not only seeing positive returns on investment but also finding that retaining as few as 1% of eligible employees can cover the cost of providing childcare benefits for all of those who are eligible within a company. The study also finds that childcare benefits can help individual employees avoid more than two weeks of absences annually, boosting employee productivity. Further, up to 86% of respondents said they were more likely to stay with their employer because of their childcare benefits, and as many as 78% said the peace of mind resulting from the benefits has given their careers a boost.

“Our study provides evidence that US employers adding childcare benefits to their employment packages are seeing quick and lasting rewards in recruiting, retention, and productivity. This result was consistent across a range of industries, and for both salaried and hourly employees,” said Emily Kos, a managing director and partner at BCG and a coauthor of the report. “One striking example of how the benefits pay for themselves is tied to something as basic as showing up. Parents miss far less work when they have reliable care and more options to manage childcare disruptions. That’s good for employees and for employers.”

The report can be viewed here.

Quotes from executives at four of the participating companies—Fast Retailing, Steamboat Ski Resort, Synchrony, and UPS—can be viewed here.

Media Contacts:

Moms First: Aly Ferguson—aly@gwcmpmstage.wpengine.com

BCG: Eric Passarelli—passarelli.eric@bcg.com

About Moms First

Moms First is a national, nonprofit organization transforming our workplaces, communities, and culture to enable moms to thrive. Our grassroots movement of more than one million moms and supporters is dedicated to advancing women’s economic freedom, uplifting the vital work of moms in our society, and building the power to win the public and private sector investments moms need and deserve, including childcare, paid leave, and equal pay.

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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