When education meets opportunity, women unlock their power to transform communities. That’s the vision behind the Yashoda Reddy Education Award, an Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) grant initiative honoring resilience and fueling future leaders.

Why Education Matters for Women in Atlanta

For many women in Atlanta, the path to higher education is filled with barriers. Nearly one in four single moms in metro Atlanta live below the poverty line, and mothers and first-generation students are disproportionately impacted by the rising costs and challenges of pursuing degrees. Education is one of the most powerful tools for achieving economic mobility and stability – yet women facing systemic barriers often lack access to the support they need to complete their studies.

This is why AWF invests in education as a pathway to equity. Through grants, philanthropic development, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations, AWF helps women not only access education but also succeed in finishing their degrees and building sustainable careers.

The Legacy of Yashoda Reddy

The Atlanta Women's Foundation's Yashoda Reddy Education Award was established to honor a remarkable woman whose life embodied strength, perseverance, and the transformative power of education. Created by her children, Dr. Sujatha Reddy, an AWF board alumna, and her brother Rohith Reddy, the award continues Yashoda’s legacy by supporting women determined to pursue higher education against the odds.

Dr. Reddy reflected on this legacy when meeting the 2025 award recipient:

“Meeting Madison and her entire family was incredibly meaningful and emotional. Our family is thrilled to honor our Mom’s legacy by supporting women like Madison, who are determined to break barriers and shatter the glass ceiling, just as Yashoda Reddy (our mom) did in her life.”

The award is a testament to the belief that when women gain access to education, they are empowered to change not only their own lives but also the lives of their families and communities.

Read the full article about the Yashoda Reddy Education Award at Atlanta Women's Foundation.