Fun fact about ME: I used to work in non-profits doing development work & large scale special events. I also worked at a giving foundation as a program manager for years, so advocating the good work of non-profits in my local community is something I still practice today
Recently TIAA challenged me to find an amazing do-gooder aka a difference maker in the community that I could nominate for a $10,000 grant for their Difference Maker 100 initiative. I had a hard time recommending one do-gooder, so I went with two…Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-Presidents of Baby2Baby.
I have been admiring the work of Baby2Baby for years now and have been blown away by their effectiveness. As a mom in the social space, I am blessed to receive so many amazing baby, toddler and kid gifts to try out. Some I can use, but in all honesty there is a lot that I cannot even get to and that is where Baby2Baby comes in. It takes all of these amazing products and redistributes them out into the community where they are most needed. It allows me to be a mom who can help out other moms in need.
Since their inception in 2011, Baby2Baby has distributed over 34 million items including more than 20 million diapers and will serve over 180,000 children in 2018. Baby2Baby helps to provide low-income children, ages 0-12 years, with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves not to mention they have also established a disaster relief program which has sent 4 million items to the children affected by the hurricanes across Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico as well as the fires in Northern and Southern California. I also love that the needs that they are trying to fill are constantly changing. For instance, there is a request to fill over 100,000 books. As a community we can easily fulfill this order via an Amazon link amzn.to/2DLbm3C
I love that Baby2Baby has a very simple mission of helping moms and babies in need but have a very well thought out and diversified fundraising plan. I love that they leverage some of their board members like Jennifer Meyer and Jenna Dewan Tatum who designed a capsule jewelry collection that was sold on gilt.com with 100% of proceeds going to Baby2Baby. It just goes to show you the open minded and forward thinking nature of the founders, which will ultimately keep this non-profit thriving in the years to come.
Both of these women are moms, wives, friends and entrepreneurs, who are also struggling with the everyday balancing act us modern moms are always striving to find. Kelly says it so well “One day I feel like I’m not spending enough time with my kids, the next I feel like I’ve dropped the ball on something at the office. I’ve come to a place where I’ve relaxed a little and realized that I can only do so much and I just try and do what I can.”
That’s why I am recommending Norah and Kelly of Baby2Baby for the TIAA Difference Maker 100.
To learn how to submit yourself or recommend someone else, head over to www.TIAADifferenceMaker100.org
*This blog post is sponsored by TIAA All thoughts expressed are my own
