Friday, April 8, 2011
Please Sign Up For the GiveBack.org
Although I am a bit away from being able to have you donate to Snuggle UP. I hope that you will all go on and please donate by shopping through the site and buying things you normally would. You will still be giving while doing what you normally do. I will keep everyone posted on the non profit as I work through the system.
A Little More Time , But Worth It.
After realizing that giveback.org is not yet set up for creating the non-profit, I realized that I was going to have to do it myself. It's quite a process and I am going to have to incorporate while waiting for my tax exempt status. I am going to move ahead after a night of utter discouragement! No sleep and lots of tears. Of course it's not going to be that easy!
This morning I spoke in great length with Ryan at:
It is a great organization that disperses information regarding the SBS and how they are trying to get the message out there regarding the dangers of SBS. I understand that they have quite a bit of funding and although he admitted that there is no current organization that he knew of that is "hands on" meeting with new parents and interacting with them one on one and explaining and listening to concerns and frustrations, they really were not equipped to handle this type of service. He agreed that it would be a great service if one did exist. So my idea of teaming up with them went south. In fact, because they aren't in need of funding, he didn't seem too excited about even getting the foundations money. I did ask if they received government grants and he said they did. I think this takes the steam out of fundraising and heading in new directions once the resources are there. I still believe there is a place for those of us that care and I am moving onward to start the non-profit filings. I have in the past created 2 other corporations, so it's within my skill set and I am determined to make it work!
This morning I spoke in great length with Ryan at:
It is a great organization that disperses information regarding the SBS and how they are trying to get the message out there regarding the dangers of SBS. I understand that they have quite a bit of funding and although he admitted that there is no current organization that he knew of that is "hands on" meeting with new parents and interacting with them one on one and explaining and listening to concerns and frustrations, they really were not equipped to handle this type of service. He agreed that it would be a great service if one did exist. So my idea of teaming up with them went south. In fact, because they aren't in need of funding, he didn't seem too excited about even getting the foundations money. I did ask if they received government grants and he said they did. I think this takes the steam out of fundraising and heading in new directions once the resources are there. I still believe there is a place for those of us that care and I am moving onward to start the non-profit filings. I have in the past created 2 other corporations, so it's within my skill set and I am determined to make it work!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Goals, Foundations and Volunteers, oh my...
I know that by myself I can't do the work that needs to be done. I know that new mommies and just about everyone is busy raising families themselves. In the next week I will be meeting with pediatricians and others that are experts in the field of childcare and accumulating the resources that we will need to begin our visits with expectant moms and dads as well as getting the permission to visit new parents in the hospital setting. My goal is to have the ability to start within 2 weeks. That will give the foundation time to get up and running as well as raise more than the $1000.00 I put in today and will help with the cost of materials to hand out. For now I will be giving out my personal phone number to moms that may have the need to talk to someone and don't have the ability to reach out to someone. Every mom should feel prepared to care for an infant even in those times we become frustrated and wonder what we should do. Here's where you come in. Once we have compiled some useful information for moms, we need some volunteers to do some of these visits. Our goal will be to target teenage moms and first time moms (and dad's) first. We aren't opposed to visiting anyone who welcomes a refresher course either. So, let me know what your thoughts are and whether you would be up for volunteering. With a grateful heart!
My Trip to Oprah!!
Most of you already know that I was invited to enjoy the trip of a lifetime to the Oprah Winfrey Show with my friend Jill that will be on the show on Friday the 8th of April.
While on the show the audience members were treated to a little surprise and challenge. You can imagine the surprise that we had when the winner of Oprah's Big Give Away announced that we were all going to be given $1000.00 dollars to start our own foundation. I screamed and jumped up and down like everyone else, and then realized what a challenge it would be. I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the show thinking about what a gift this truly was and knowing that no matter what else happened, I would do my very best to make a difference with the money given. I knew that it would need to be something that would be near and dear to my heart, so it needed to include children.
For those who don't know, I became a mother at 17. Without giving the entire history, I was a mother with a little baby boy and didn't have a clue as what to do. I knew it involved feeding, changing diapers, bathing...but what I didn't know, was how much I didn't know.
I barely slept last night; I have been pretty tearful all morning as I contemplate this awesome responsibility. I have decided on Snuggle UP Parents.
My foundation's goal is going to be meeting with expectant mothers or newly delivered mothers (and daddy’s) in either the hospital setting or at home and bring to them some expert advice, some mommy advice, some grand mommy advice and some resources that will answer questions, offer support and even warn of some pitfalls we've all had as parents. Our goal is to provide any baby within our reach to enjoy a truly safe, nurturing and loving start to life.
As I look back, I so wish that I would have had anyone just give me the heads up on "what now"?? How to react to a fussy baby, how to deal with sleep deprivation and most of how to support each other. This is where you all can help.
The foundation will need lots of mommies, grand mommies, aunts, just about anyone who cares about these little tiny people to have some resources to get to the people who need them. Through the website http://www.giveback.org/ there are hundreds of organizations that we buy from everyday. For each purchase that is made on behalf of our foundation up until July 16th 2011 the vendors such as: GAP, Land of Nod, Macy's Sears, Lowes, Barnes and Noble, Express, LL Bean...the list goes on and on 50% will be given to the foundation. After that 30% will be given to the foundation through this opportunity
Since we are all going to shop anyway, can you imagine that each time you buy through the foundation it may it may provide the resources necessary to prevent shaken baby syndrome, child abuse or neglect...the sky is the limit and I know that each of you have the desire to be the community we need to be to educate and support positive parenting! Be patient, it may take up to a few days to get the foundation up and running. Thank you so much for your support. Let's show Oprah we can make a difference!
While on the show the audience members were treated to a little surprise and challenge. You can imagine the surprise that we had when the winner of Oprah's Big Give Away announced that we were all going to be given $1000.00 dollars to start our own foundation. I screamed and jumped up and down like everyone else, and then realized what a challenge it would be. I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the show thinking about what a gift this truly was and knowing that no matter what else happened, I would do my very best to make a difference with the money given. I knew that it would need to be something that would be near and dear to my heart, so it needed to include children.
For those who don't know, I became a mother at 17. Without giving the entire history, I was a mother with a little baby boy and didn't have a clue as what to do. I knew it involved feeding, changing diapers, bathing...but what I didn't know, was how much I didn't know.
I barely slept last night; I have been pretty tearful all morning as I contemplate this awesome responsibility. I have decided on Snuggle UP Parents.
My foundation's goal is going to be meeting with expectant mothers or newly delivered mothers (and daddy’s) in either the hospital setting or at home and bring to them some expert advice, some mommy advice, some grand mommy advice and some resources that will answer questions, offer support and even warn of some pitfalls we've all had as parents. Our goal is to provide any baby within our reach to enjoy a truly safe, nurturing and loving start to life.
As I look back, I so wish that I would have had anyone just give me the heads up on "what now"?? How to react to a fussy baby, how to deal with sleep deprivation and most of how to support each other. This is where you all can help.
The foundation will need lots of mommies, grand mommies, aunts, just about anyone who cares about these little tiny people to have some resources to get to the people who need them. Through the website http://www.giveback.org/ there are hundreds of organizations that we buy from everyday. For each purchase that is made on behalf of our foundation up until July 16th 2011 the vendors such as: GAP, Land of Nod, Macy's Sears, Lowes, Barnes and Noble, Express, LL Bean...the list goes on and on 50% will be given to the foundation. After that 30% will be given to the foundation through this opportunity
Since we are all going to shop anyway, can you imagine that each time you buy through the foundation it may it may provide the resources necessary to prevent shaken baby syndrome, child abuse or neglect...the sky is the limit and I know that each of you have the desire to be the community we need to be to educate and support positive parenting! Be patient, it may take up to a few days to get the foundation up and running. Thank you so much for your support. Let's show Oprah we can make a difference!
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