Windflower Ball celebrates 10th anniversary; honors 3
Kids Today Industry News
By Lisa Casinger -- Kids Today, 11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM
Ten years ago, the Williamson-Noble family founded the Windflower Ball in memory of the son they lost to SIDS, Alexander. They, along with a group of volunteers and advocates, held the ball as a fund-raising event to support SIDS research and education. In 2004, First Candle, a non-profit who’s mission is to promote safe pregnancies and the survival of babies through the first years of life, began hosting the gala event.
About 300 people attended this year’s event on Oct. 16 in New York and nearly $70,000 was raised through a silent and live auction, corporate tables and other donations. Funds from this year’s gala will support the Alexander Williamson-Noble Memorial Fund established at First Candle by the gala’s founders, Esmeralda and Hugh Williamson-Noble.
During the event, First Candle/SIDS Alliance honored three companies for their ongoing support.
Halo Innovations, makers of the Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket; Regal Lager, distributor of nursery and children’s products; and Scripps Howard News Services were recognized.
“Halo is truly honored to be recognized by our peers in the industry as well as by the leaders in SIDS research and prevention,” said Bill Schmid, founder of Halo Innovations and a SIDS dad himself. “The goal of our company has remained the same from day one: to help prevent SIDS by creating a safe sleep environment for baby. We hope that our efforts to educate parents through hospitals, prenatal classes and through other grass roots activities will result in more babies enjoying safe sleep.”
“For more than a decade, Halo has supported First Candle with financial contributions totally nearly $1 million, helping us to expand our programs and services among new and expectant parents,” said Dr. Marion Sokol, First Candle president.
Jennie Boden, vice president and managing director of First Candle and the National Crib Campaign said, “We salute Bengt, Luanne and the entire Regal Lager team for their unwavering support of First Candle’s mission. From making important financial contributions which support our programs and services and providing countless, priceless introductions to key publishers and editors at our nation’s leading baby and parenting media; to serving on First Candle’s Leadership Council and encouraging ongoing partnerships between First Candle, ABC and JPMA, we consider ourselves lucky to count Regal Lager as our friend.”
Bengt Lager, president of Regal Lager, currently serves on the board ofAll Baby & Child and vice president Luanne Whiting-Lager currently serves as a board member of the JPMA. Regal Lager has partnered with StrollerFit, and provides continuous support to Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S), as well as to First Candle.
“We are so proud to set the example in lending a helping hand to worthy causes in our industry,” said Luanne. “First Candle has been dedicated to eradicating SIDS and we are committed to do our absolute best in helping First Candle to achieve this admirable goal.”
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