Business Sponsors Needed!!!!

Local Business Owners:
Please join us and your fellow local business owners in supporting the Baby Steps Memorial 5K Run/Walk at Tannehill Historical State Park benefiting the Amelia Center on August 29, 2009. All proceeds raised will be donated to the Amelia Center in Birmingham which has served as a place of hope for grieving children, parents and families for the past twelve years. The Amelia Center offers free grief counseling not only to parents and grandparents who have suffered the loss of a child but also to children who have lost loved ones. The center operates by donations and continued support from our community members and it is programs like this that are vital to many people here locally and in our neighboring communities. For more information on the Amelia Center visit http://www.ameliacenter.org/.

We have chosen to support this program as mothers who recently suffered the loss of our children this past year. Abby and Cary Nicholas lost twin boys, Braden and Brody at 22 weeks due to unexplained preterm labor in April 2008. Loni and Justin Hodge lost their daughter, Maddox Elise at 28 weeks due to Triploidy in February 2009. As two grieving mothers, our mission is to provide support to bereavement programs, NICUs and infant/child causes throughout our community. We organize, host and provide fundraising in the community to accomplish our mission to support these important causes.

The 1st Annual Baby Steps Memorial 5K Run/Walk needs sponsorship from local businesses both large and small. We are reaching out asking how each of you can help us to give these families the support they need to cope with their struggles. All business sponsors will be included on advertisement materials as well as race participant shirts.

There are many areas needing sponsorship but some of the biggest needs are:
• Monetary donations for T-shirts, race result equipment (Trak Shak), water/snacks for participants, park fees
• Door Prize items for participants such as any service or items from your business would be great!
• Coupons and promotional items for participant goodie bags
• Race Participant Company Teams are welcome!!!

We would like to thank you in advance for your consideration and support to make the race a success! Please contact us with any questions or to find out more on how to make a donation or become involved.


babysteps5k@yahoo.com

Donations can be made payable to Baby Steps and mailed to:

Baby Steps
PO Box 674
Moody, AL 35004


Sincerely,
Abby Nicholas & Loni Hodge

Donations

For those of you interested Bunco for Babies has been a HUGE success.

April - We had our first Bunco night. It was so much fun and I enjoyed meeting all the new people! We collected disposable cameras as our "item of the month" which Loni and I took to Trinity Hospital's NICU. They gladly accepted our donations.

May - Our second night was wonderful. Although we had a lot of people who weren't able to make it, we had several new players. Our "item of the month" was small blankets. Loni and I made a trip to STV East Wednesday and donated the blankets, bouncy seat, socks, hand mitts, breastfeeding drape and a womb sound bear. The women in this NICU were VERY excited to receive the donations. They made us feel extremely welcome. Their charge nurse Melanie even shared with us that she too has lost infants. It's amazing how many people have lost infants but are not vocal about it. There are so many of us out there and we have to support each other.

I am so thankful that Bunco for Babies has been such a success. Each month brings a bigger smile to my face and I'm happy to share the memory of Braden and Brody with these special women!!!

Happy Mother's Day - Tina

This is MY mother-in-law.

Cary's mom is a special woman. She does so much for other people and neglects her own needs! I hope she takes this day and makes it her own!!!

Thanks for everything you do for Cary, me and everyone else! We love you!!!

Mother's Day - Honey

This is MY mom!

She makes me laugh, cry and act like a fool. What can I say, she brings out the best in me!!!

I love you and am glad you are here for me to spend this special day with!!!

Thanks Big Mama Honey for being there and being the best!!!

P.S. the necklace in the picture is so pretty - I'm sure it cost a lot!