Capital One ranked No. 22 on The Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2022.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Capital One spotlighted Kate Rose Marquez and Verni Howard, two executive leaders of nonprofits that aim to empower vulnerable women in their communities. The organizations are supported by the company’s Impact Initiative.
Marquez is the CEO of WiNGs, an organization based in Dallas that helps women achieve financial security and reduce generational poverty.
“Over the decade, we’ve seen that our clients face a venn diagram of barriers such as a lack of access to careers, education and general support. But when we raise up the woman, we raise up the family and community,” said Marquez.
Through funding from Capital One, WiNGS is expanding its Financial Resiliency Program to provide members with a skills-based education and individual financial coaching to help them achieve financial independence.
The program has helped members increase their credit score by an average of 40 points, increase their savings by an average of $3,000 and decrease their debt by an average of $9,000.
“WiNGS is not the protagonist of these women’s stories — these women are,” said Marquez. “These women signed up and showed up to these classes because they wanted resources that make sense for their family. We’re just here to build the scaffold around them and hold them up.”
At Providence House, Executive Director Howard helps provide shelter and educational support for homeless families and children.
“If we can get the tripod strong through education, housing and workforce development, then we can build self-sufficiency, happiness and the ability for people to hold up a mirror and see themselves beyond the lens of homelessness,” said Howard.
Through Capital One’s funding, Providence House is providing money for women with new careers and children with extracurricular activities, including uniforms, equipment and transportation. The funding also supports birthday parties for children.
“We know that our women, children, and families want the exact same thing that anyone else wants, which is to feel valued, seen, and heard,” said Howard.
Read more at capitalone.com.
