Jaycina Almond’s passion for supporting single mothers stems from her own lived experiences.

“The Tender Foundation is the culmination of my own personal experience: my mom was a single mother for the first half of my childhood and then she was stuck in a bad relationship because she couldn’t support three girls on her own,” she explained. “I got pregnant pretty young at 20 years old and was a single mom for the first several years of my daughter’s life. I just wanted to do something for women like me.”

A model, writer, and founder of The Tender Foundation, Almond has dedicated her life to supporting single mothers. She has done so through financial assistance, resources, and community care. Now, as an honoree of adidas’ 2025 Honoring Black Excellence (HBE) initiative, she is using her platform to amplify the voices of Black mothers and advocate for systemic change.

What began as a deeply personal mission has now transformed into a shared vision between Almond, her team, and the mothers they serve.

“The families we support have been navigating and stretching their income way before we started—it’s important that we include them in our world-building,” she added.

Challenging the Myths Around Black Motherhood

As part of adidas’ 2025 HBE initiative, Almond was the subject of a powerful short film that premiered this Women’s History Month. The project highlights her journey and the work of The Tender Foundation while addressing the harmful stereotypes surrounding Black motherhood.

“This collaboration not only allows us to reach more mamas with direct assistance but also helps raise awareness to destigmatize poverty and single motherhood,” she said. “There’s no shame in being a single mom, and there’s no shame in living paycheck to paycheck. These things are not individual failures. I hope viewers walk away questioning where those narratives came from and how we can change them.”

Addressing Systemic Barriers to Black Motherhood

With nearly half of Black mothers in the U.S. raising children alone and 28 percent of them living in poverty, Almond is well aware of the systemic challenges that make financial stability difficult.

“The framing of single motherhood has historically been a racialized topic. Black families were dismantled at the beginning of our country’s founding, and certain policies still contribute to that today. I don’t think there’s inherently a problem to fix with single motherhood, but policies like paid leave for all, universal low-cost childcare, and direct cash transfer programs for expecting mothers would improve the quality of life for every mother,” Almond asserted.

The Tender Foundation is already working to implement trust-based solutions like The Bridge, a direct cash assistance program that provides mothers with monthly, no-strings-attached financial support for a full year.

“These programs work. They are more cost-effective, more efficient, and they give participants agency over their own lives, which is crucial,” she said.

The Power of Community and Future Goals

Community support is at the heart of The Tender Foundation’s work, and partnerships like the one with adidas help expand its impact.

“As a grassroots organization, our partnership with adidas allows us to reach more mamas with direct assistance and also gives us the space to dream about what’s next,” Almond shared. “With adidas’s help, we’ll be hosting an inaugural event for our families that combines physical activity, advocacy, and community building. We’re also launching the second cohort of The Bridge, providing more mothers with unconditional cash assistance.”

Looking to the future, Almond envisions a mobile Diaper Pantry to reach more families in need.

“We currently operate a Diaper Bank that delivers supplies across metro Atlanta, but we rely on volunteer drivers, and some families don’t have reliable transportation. Having a stocked truck and a dedicated driver would allow us to serve more mothers efficiently,” she explained.

A Call to Action

As Almond continues her work, she hopes to inspire others to contribute to the culture of community care.

“I hope people see the power of community and maybe even get inspired to do something of their own,” she said.

Through her leadership, The Tender Foundation is not just providing financial relief—it’s fostering a movement of empowerment, dignity, and shared responsibility. With the support of adidas and a growing network of advocates, Almond is proving that when Black mothers thrive, entire communities flourish.