While deployed in Kosovo in May 2024, U.S. Army Reserve physical therapy assistant Elvia Azuara saw many stray cats running around one of the bases — including a sweet little black and white female kitty, known mostly as Fent.
Azuara noticed her one day during lunch and she fed fries to Fent. Soon, this became a regular bonding activity for them. “I guess she knew my routine,” Azuara said in an interview with Stacker. “Whenever I was there, she would just pop up out of nowhere and she would wait for her fries.”
But four months later, in October, Azuara got word that her deployment was ending — and she was devastated to leave the kitty, especially as winter approached. And that’s where Paws of War’s “War Torn Pups & Cats” program stepped in.
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
Ollie profiled the work of the U.S. nonprofit, which reunites military personnel with the animals they bonded with while serving overseas. Founded by Robert Misseri in 2014, Paws of War has helped rescue over 5,000 dogs and cats for nearly 1,000 veterans. The organization filled an increasing need for officers in the Air Force, Marines, Army, Coast Guard, and Army Reserves who served overseas, bonded with a dog or a cat, and didn’t want to leave them behind in an uncertain situation.
The organization serves a dual purpose by reuniting service members grappling with the aftermath of war with animals needing care. And for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, their furry companions not only bring joy but also help them heal.
“We have troops all over the world and the sacrifices that those people make is pretty great,” said Paws of War volunteer Gary Baumann, who volunteers with the “War Torn Pups & Cats” program. “We feel like asking them to leave these animals behind is a sacrifice they shouldn’t have to make,” he told Stacker.
Jaromir Chalabala // Shutterstock
High costs but high rewards
Azuara heard about the program from service members who had previously been deployed at the base. After she bonded with Fent, she submitted her application to bring the kitty home to the U.S.
“I was a little skeptical at the beginning, to be honest, because I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know why would they do it for free,’” she said, “but I don’t lose anything by just checking it out.”
The “War Torn Pups & Cats” program costs nothing for service members—donors primarily fund it. In 2023, Paws of War raised over $4 million from contributions and grants.
After a soldier like Azuara applies, Paws of War volunteers and staff members all around the world team up to work on the logistics, exploring how possible it is to bring the pet to the United States. Dogs and cats need to see a qualified veterinarian for documentation and rabies vaccines before traveling internationally, but sometimes that vet is located hours away. The care can also vary in cost, depending on local currency and pricing.
“Recently we had a dog in Africa and we’ve done a few from bases there,” Baumann said. “It literally takes a donkey cart, a boat, couple cars and then, usually a motorcycle, something that can go through a little bit of brush to get these the dogs or cats to the city where we can get them to a vet and start processing them.”
The most expensive part of the process is transporting animals to the U.S. It often involves flying them in a plane as cargo, which can cost around $4,000 or more. The pet also must enter the country at a government-authorized airport.
For instance, cats from other countries can enter the U.S. through several airports, but the CDC only allows dogs from high-risk rabies countries to enter through six, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and Los Angeles International Airport.
For the “War Torn” program, the expense is worth it for the organization, its soldiers, and the animals. Dogs and cats are believed to be capable of more complex emotions than most people realize and their reunions with the officers they bonded with may mean just as much to them as it does to the human.
For Azuara, the bond was as strong as ever. Three weeks after she put in her application, the program contacted her in November 2024 with good news: Fent was ready to travel to the U.S. and live with her.
The cat flew from Kosovo and entered the U.S. through JFK airport, eventually making it to Azuara’s home in Austin, Texas. Their reunion at the airport meant a lot to Azuara, who worried the kitty might forget her or not get along with her two dogs. But Fent — who Azuara renamed Frenzy — adjusted to her new home right away. Frenzy doesn’t get to eat fries anymore, but enjoys her proper cat food.
Now, Azuara is training to join the Travis County EMS. Having Frenzy, a major part of her overseas experience, in Texas has helped her readjust to the U.S.
“She’s definitely one of my huge grounding tools, when I was over there,” Azuara said. “When the situations were really stressful, she was something that would brighten up my day. And when I came back it’s really hard to transition and acclimate back into civilian life, but having her, it was kind of like having a little piece of where I was and a little reminder that, hey, it’s going to be okay.”
Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Elisa Huang. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.
This story originally appeared on Ollie and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
When you start a small business, there’s one thing you need more than anything else: money. However, getting money to fund a business has been challenging for women, particularly women of color.
While women continue to make strides in raising more venture capital, they still only garnered just 2% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in the U.S.
To source money for their new businesses, women need to look at multiple funding avenues. As NEXT points out, one opportunity is small business grants for women, which can get overlooked by traditional loans and lines of credit.
insta_photos // Shutterstock
What are business grants for women?
Business grants provide money to set up or grow your business, and you don’t have to pay it back. Free money — sounds good, right?
Grant opportunities are different from business loans because you don’t need to repay them — no lenders or dealing with payback schedules.
The downside is that it can be harder to qualify for a business grant than for a small business loan. You have to be prepared to put some work into the grant application.
However, if you’re a woman starting a new business, it can be much easier to qualify for dedicated grants for women.
Federal government grants for women
The federal government offers several grant programs for small business owners. Most of them are for all small business owners, not just for women, but they are still worth checking out.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is a huge database of government grants spanning over 20 federal agencies. While it’s not exclusive to small businesses or women-owned businesses, you can search for federal grants that are suitable for your business using keywords and filters.
To apply for any grants, you need to have a Unique Entity Identity Identifier (UEI) — a unique 12-character business identification number (previously, you had to provide a DUNs number). You also need to register your business with the federal government and create an account at the Grants.gov site.
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs
Typically, the Small Business Administration (SBA) does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. However, they offer a few grants to businesses involved in medical or scientific research via the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs.
The Empower to Grow program
This is more of a training program than a straight grant award. However, this program is unique because it’s designed to help small business owners get on the fast track to lucrative government contracting opportunities. Even better: The federal government’s goal is to award at least 5% of all its contracting dollars to women-owned businesses annually.
State government and local grants
Small business grants can be tough to come by on a federal level. There are often more funding opportunities on a state or local government level—specifically designed for women entrepreneurs.
Small business development centers (SBDC) offer free business consulting, training and help in getting funding for your business. Sponsored by the SBA, these centers help entrepreneurs find assistance and counseling in their area.
Women’s Business Centers (WBC)
Run by the SBA, there are 168 women’s business centers nationally to help you learn how to manage your business and find more funds. Resources are often free or low-cost. Some WBCs lend money to women entrepreneurs, while others help owners find qualifying grants and loans.
Private business grants for women
These are business grants for women that private organizations and companies fund. Some of the best private grants for women starting a business are:
The Amber Grant for Women
Named in honor of Amber Wigdahl, who passed away at a young age before realizing her business dreams, the Amber Grant provides three amazing grants every month.
$10,000 grant to a woman entrepreneur. (Amber Grant)
$10,000 grant to businesses in the “idea” phase. (Startup Grant)
$10,000 grant to a set monthly business-specific category. (Business-Specific Grant)
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Business categories for Business-Specific Grants
For the Business-Specific Grant, there are 12 business categories you could be eligible for. If your business falls under these specific business categories, you automatically become eligible (once per year). Each year, one of these 12 winning business categories is given an additional grant of $25,000.
All businesses selected for one of the three monthly $10,000 grants are automatically eligible for three year-end Amber Grants ($25,000).
IFundWomen is a funding platform for women entrepreneurs that provides access to capital via crowdfunding and business grants. They offer a variety of grants, including business partnerships and crowdfunded grants. You can check for active grants and eligibility requirements.
Their universal grant application database is unique and delivers grant opportunities directly to you. When you submit your application, you get added to their database. Then, when IFundWomen brokers a grant, they match the grant criteria to their database.
If you match the program criteria, they notify you and invite you to apply. No more spending time on your application to find out you didn’t read the fine print and are ineligible.
Tory Burch Foundation
American fashion label Tory Burch has a philanthropic arm called The Tory Burch Foundation that gives out grants to women entrepreneurs. There are two grant pathways: their fellowship program and a woman of color grant program.
Fellowship program: Fellows participate in a year-long program complete with virtual education programming, options to attend in-person events and a trip to New York for a five-day workshop. Recipients also receive a $5,000 grant for business education.
The Tory Burch Foundation also partners with the Bank of America capital program to help provide more access to capital through affordable loans.
Cartier Women’s Initiative
The Cartier Women’s Initiative offers a women’s fellowship program with grants ranging from $100,000 or $30,000 to 30 regional laureates and finalists each year. It also provides executive coaching, peer-learning sessions, collective workshops, networking opportunities and other educational resources to help develop and support business needs.
Additionally, the Cartier Women’s Initiative awards several thematic grants:
Science and technology pioneer award. The award amounts are the same as the regional awards—$100,000-$30,000.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion award. This award is not disclosed and is also open to men.
Women Founders Network (WFN)
The Women Founders Network (WFN) is a nonprofit organization that provides education on entrepreneurship and investing to women and girls. Their Fast Pitch competition offers mentoring, coaching and sponsorships as part of the overall program. Aside from the $55,000+ in cash grants available for distribution, there is a cash investment potential from investors who attend the event, so it pays to sharpen your pitch skills.
digitalundivided BREAKTHROUGH program
digitalundivided is a nonprofit focused on economic growth for Black and Latinx communities through women entrepreneurs. In partnering with JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways, they launched the BREAKTHROUGH program. Upon completing the program, each company accepted to the program will receive a $5,000 grant to invest in their business.
This program is regionally based, accepting cohorts in different cities. Check their website and social pages for information about what city they’re coming to next.
The BGV Pitch program
Got a business idea? Black Girl Ventures holds a hybrid pitch program where they coach entrepreneurs, host a pitch competition and connect founders to their network of professionals for additional support. They have several different pitch programs where applicants can win grants and stipends.
The Mama Ladder
The Mama Ladder’s High Five grant program has helped mom business owners grow since 2018. They’ve granted over $70,000 to women business owners and aim to give $1 million in grants by 2033.
EmpowerHer fund
This grant is for women-led organizations that benefit women and girls in New York City. Every quarter, they grant a business $1,000.
Microgrants for woman-owned businesses
Galaxy Grants
Hidden Star, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping minority and women entrepreneurs nationwide offers the Galaxy Grant. Entrants have the chance to win a grant of $2,450.
Kitty Fund Mompreneur business grant
Created in honor of Mother’s Day and Founder’s First CEO Kim Folsom’s mother, the Kitty Fund makes microinvestments in mothers running employer-based small businesses. Totaling $25,000, this program grants ‘mompreneurs’ in the form of $1,000 microgrants.
HerRise MicroGrants
HerRise microgrants are worth $1,000 each and are open to women of color entrepreneurs. Winners are selected monthly.
The Enthuse Foundation
The Enthuse Foundation provides a variety of financial awards to help entrepreneurs with crucial business needs. They offer 10 microgrants worth $2,500 each.
Giving Joy Grants
Giving Joy grants are one-time microgrants (up to $500) for entrepreneurs. Women 18 or older from any country in the world are eligible to apply.
Additional grants and resources
While these grants are not exclusive to women, they may be useful to small business owners.
The Halstead Grant
The Halstead Grant is only for those in the jewelry industry—both women and men.
Designed to help jewelry entrepreneurs kick-start their careers, the winner gets $7,500 in grant money plus $1,000 for Halstead jewelry supplies. It’s available for early-stage businesses that have been open for three to five years.
National Association for the Self-Employed Growth Grants
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) awards Growth Grants to members of their organization. It’s open to both women and men small business owners. Awardees will receive $4,000, which can be used for marketing, advertising, hiring employees, expanding facilities and other specific business needs.
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
Global shipping company FedEx has a small business grant program. It awards ten U.S.-based businesses with grants of up to $50,000 and up to $4,000 in FedEx Office print and business services. One business receives the grand prize of $50,000, and several second prize recipients get $20,000 for a prize pool totaling over $300,000.
How can I get business grants for women?
You can take steps to boost your chances of success when you apply for business grants for women.
Read the application requirements carefully. Make sure you choose a grant that really fits your business, so you don’t waste time applying for a grant you are unlikely to receive.
Don’t skip any documents that the application asks you for, and don’t be late for the application deadline.
Prepare a clear business plan. Describe what your business does and exactly how the grant will help. Be as detailed as you can.
Bring in outside experts, like an accountant or a business advisor. It looks good to have an expert on your team.
Check that your business has all the necessary licenses. Make sure you have valid business insurance. It shows that you are responsible and reliable.
This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Getting money to fund a business has been challenging for women, particularly women of color. (Getty Images)
When asked to picture someone with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, the common stereotype is a child, usually a young boy, who is disruptive and has a lot of energy. However, as medical professionals and the community at large become more aware of adult ADHD, the CDC now estimates that 15.5 million U.S. adults have it, making up 6% of the population.
ADHD presents differently in adults, particularly women. While all adults with ADHD may become less hyperactive as they get older, they can still experience impulsivity and difficulty staying focused. Symptoms typical in women can be less noticeable, including being easily distracted and failing to pay attention to detail. They can also involve excessive talking or speaking before thinking. Cultural norms and a lack of understanding of the disorder have led many of these women to be written off as being “spacy” or “chatty.”
Lopolo // Shutterstock
For those who are undiagnosed, shame and feelings of inadequacy are also common, largely due to a lifetime of perceived failure. Guilt over being unable to complete everyday tasks like meeting deadlines or listening to instructions can lead to mistakes at work, exacerbating self-criticism and feelings of low self-worth.
ADHD also impacts executive function, the part of the brain that regulates thoughts and actions to help manage tasks and achieve goals. Executive dysfunction can increase the feeling of being overwhelmed, leading to task paralysis and not knowing where to begin. An August 2024 survey of 1,000 American adults from Ohio State University found that 1 in 4 adults surveyed think they could be experiencing symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD, but only around half of these adults had told their doctor about their concerns.
To help, ADHD Advisor compiled tips for adults who think they have ADHD, along with steps to take to get help and proper support.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A // Shutterstock
1. Research common symptoms and how they manifest
Self-diagnosis is often the first step toward getting support. With ADHD, it’s important to note there are three recognized types: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and a combination of the two.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms typically include disorganization, poor time management skills, and trouble focusing. These symptoms can manifest as daydreaming during conversations or meetings, not paying attention to details, or struggling to finish tasks. People often describe those with predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD as fidgety or impatient. They may frequently interrupt others in conversation and find it difficult to wait their turn. People with combined-type ADHD show symptoms equally from both categories.
Im Yanis // Shutterstock
2. Arm yourself with knowledge
Once you’ve identified your ADHD type, it’s helpful to go deeper and read the latest research on ADHD.
The online magazine ADDitude offers a compendium of articles written by experts on everything from why people with ADHD are more likely to be defensive to tips on how to reduce clutter, a common problem for people with ADHD.
Books like “A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD” by Sari Solden and Michelle Frank can give insight into how ADHD presents in women specifically, while “The ADHD Effect on Marriage” by Melissa Orlov goes into how ADHD symptoms can impact romantic relationships.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A // Shutterstock
3. Work with a therapist who specializes in ADHD
One approach to treating adult ADHD is through a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, which specifically focuses on changing thinking and behavioral patterns. Life-skills coaching can also help some people with ADHD. By working to recognize and manage their symptoms, people with ADHD can improve their coping skills and overall self-esteem, which may be lower in people diagnosed with ADHD later in life.
Find a therapist who specializes in ADHD using websites like PsychologyToday or through mental health platforms.
Tero Vesalainen // Shutterstock
4. Search for community
Any new health diagnosis can be scary and isolating. But talking to other adults with ADHD can help.
Talking to a doctor is the first step to getting diagnosed. While this can usually be done through a primary care provider, a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist can also make the determination.
Remember, you are your own best self-advocate. Harold Meyer, director of CHADD’s New York City chapter, recommends people come prepared and have a vision of the desired outcome.
Before the appointment, list and rate symptoms and provide specific examples from your life. For example, instead of saying, “I’m late to work sometimes,” keep a record of how many times you were late over an extended period. Talking to family and close friends can offer perspective while opening the door to productive conversations.
According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, criteria for an official ADHD diagnosis for people aged 17 and older include having at least five of the listed symptoms, which have negatively impacted school, social, or work life over at least six months.
No matter what steps you take and in what order, treating ADHD is a complex process that will take time, patience, and a little self-love.
Story editing by Natasja Sheriff Wells. Additional editing by Elisa Huang. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.
This story originally appeared on ADHD Advisor and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Here are tips for adults who think they have ADHD, along with steps to take to get help and proper support. (Getty Images)
Just before the 2024 presidential election, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said that if former President Donald Trump won, he would get back into the “deportation business.” Now, the suburban Ohio sheriff has set aside 250 to 300 beds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, detainees—around a third of Butler County Jail’s capacity, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, and a boon to the county’s revenue.
Overwhelming evidence shows immigrants are less likely to commit crime than people born in the U.S. Sheriff Jones himself concedes that immigrants are not more prone to crime. However, he has echoed Trump’s immigration rhetoric and vowed to do his part to enforce Trump’s plans to deport undocumented immigrants. “I believe in American citizens first. People who have blood and sweat into this country have fought for it, them first. These other countries aren’t first. We are,” Jones told WLWT.
The detention part of the “deportation business” could be a profitable one for Butler County, The Marshall Project reports. In 2024, the county made over $6.7 million renting jail beds to other local and federal government agencies, including the U.S. Marshals and the Bureau of Prisons. Even before Trump’s re-election, Butler County budgeted for an increase in that revenue to an estimated $8.5 million in 2025, according to the Journal-News.
A county commissioner offered support for the sheriff’s plans to rent more beds to ICE: “Obviously, the more prisoners we have, the more revenue it produces,” Commissioner Don Dixon said.
Butler County isn’t the only entity that could see revenue rise with the deportation of immigrants.
Cell room doors are seen at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia, on August 13, 2018. (SAUL LOEB // AFP via Getty Images)
The Biden administration has already laid the groundwork for deportations by extending private detention contracts. Still, Trump will face significant financial, legal, and logistical limitations in building or expanding any kind of deportation infrastructure. But even if he only partially delivers on his promises, the financial and human impacts could be significant.
Since the election, there has been a lot of attention on how many for-profit companies, especially private prisons, stand to rake in big profits from mass deportations. Some have already seen their stock prices skyrocket. But local governments may also assist Trump, for both political and financial reasons.
The job of detaining immigrants, though, is where local governments most clearly stand to profit. County jails may rent beds to ICE, expanding detention capacity. Local governments can also sign intergovernmental agreements to provide detention for ICE, and then subcontract to private companies to actually run the jails — essentially acting as middlemen between private jails and the federal government. That allows ICE to bypass rules about documentation and competitive contracting, according to a government report.
Local jails are the most common type of detention facility that ICE uses, according to a recent report from Vera, an advocacy organization working to end mass incarceration. These kinds of agreements already exist under the Biden administration, but could expand under Trump’s deportation plans.
In Louisiana, more than a dozen facilities closed after the state passed laws reducing mandatory minimums and increasing chances for parole. But some buildings were quickly repurposed to house migrants. The complex interplay between state, federal and local governments and also between public and private entities often makes oversight and accountability difficult, according to Bloomberg News. The journalistic investigation looked specifically at Louisiana’s Winn Correctional Center, which is run by the private company LaSalle Corrections.
“The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections owns the facility,” reporters at Bloomberg wrote. “The Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office leases the property from the state. The sheriff’s office then signs a contract with the federal government to allow the facility to be used for ICE detainees. Finally, LaSalle Corrections is subcontracted to handle day-to-day operations.”
When lawyers with an advocacy organization tried to get records to investigate troubling allegations of abuse, each agency insisted someone else was responsible for keeping them.
While such arrangements may grow under Trump, there is already a long history of local jails playing a role in immigration detention. “The Migrant’s Jail,” a recently published book by Brianna Nofil, shows how these practices stretch back to the 1920’s and ’30s. “By the end of the 20th century, sheriffs are funding city emergency services, buying new police technologies, and eliminating personal property tax off of migrant incarceration revenue,” Nofil told Princeton University Press.
The conditions of those jails were often inhumane. According to Nofil, in 1925, a grand jury found the situation at a Galveston, Texas jail so terrible, it declared it “a crime against humanity.”
Problems with poor conditions continue today. In August, Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey wrote a letter to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, raising concerns about deficient medical care and allegations of staff violence at Plymouth County Correctional Facility. But since then, the county has signed a new contract that more than doubles the jail’s revenue, according to The Boston Globe, “paying the sheriff’s office $215 per detainee per day.”
Some states have taken action to limit how much local governments can contract with ICE, but have met resistance for financial reasons. Illinois passed a law banning ICE detention in 2021, but two counties sued the state. In court records, Kankakee County Sheriff Michael Downey said the county’s contract with ICE generated $16 million over four years, which paid for many aspects of local government. Losing the contract would lead to a need to increase taxes, cut budgets, and lay off staff, the sheriff testified. A federal judge ruled against the counties.
Stacy Suh, Program Director at Detention Watch Network, an advocacy group that opposes immigration detention, told me that these kinds of incentives are perverse. Suh also argued that prisons and jails don’t always deliver the jobs or economic boons towns hope for.
“We’re very concerned that this detention expansion is happening—both through local governments that are struggling with shrinking budgets, or private prison corporations that are looking to profit,” Suh said.
This story was produced byThe Marshall Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
A common area and cell room doors are seen inside the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia, on August 13, 2018. – A former regional jail, the facility has been contracted by the US Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house undocumented adult immigrant detainees for violations of immigration laws (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
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