A Richmond business owner who kick-started a bursary for Black single mothers is celebrating three scholarship recipients who have benefited from them by completing their high school and post-secondary education.
La Toya Barrington, who owns and operates Go2Girl Services, started the bursary program in 2021 to help struggling, single Black mothers further their education.
Two recipients completed their post-secondary education to upgrade their careers and one recently graduated from high school, according to Barrington.
“To help empower three single Black women to achieve their goals is very humbling and an honour,” she said.
“I’m sure their life has been a long and hard journey and anything that I and the community can do to make a difference in the lives of others, is what we are all supposed to do.”
Barringtonhas been featured by the Richmond News several times in the previous years for bringing awareness to issues affecting the Black community.
When times were hard for her as a single mom, her community had her back.
Now, with the help of the community, enough funds were raised for these three bursaries, Barrington explained.
However, her philanthropy hasn’t always been a walk in the park.
Barrington originally wanted to start a bursary for single Black dads, but the backlash she received thwarted her plans.
“The hate email and backlash had made me really anxious to open another bursary so I had put a pause on the initiative,” said Barrington.
Seeing the success of the three scholarships, she said she’s planning some other “big projects” this year and might start up the bursary initiative again.
-with files from Alan Campbell
