Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to go to the Healthy Beginnings, Bright Futures Luncheon and Fundraiser hosted by MOMS Orange County. MOMS Orange County is a non-profit organization helping mothers and their families raise healthy babies by offering health coordination, education, resources and access to community services.
This event drew 220 participants; raised $25,000; and featured keynote speaker, Dr. Candice Taylor Lucas, who discussed the importance of early childhood obesity prevention. I also got to meet the “Mother of the Year” Andrea Lunel.
Before the luncheon, I had the privilege of meeting Pamela Pimentel, CEO of MOMS, and a registered nurse. MOMS mission is simple, and when speaking with Pamela, her passion for this cause is evident. Before now, I don’t think I’d ever met anyone who truly loved to get up and go to work. I guess if you are like Pamela—and you know that you actually make a difference in people’s lives—it gives you a little more pep in your step.
I asked Pamela to tell me some more about the organization, and her first statement was that every baby deserves to be born healthy. There are risk factors for all women, and because of this, MOMS holds no financial regulations. They serve approximately 3,700 mothers and families annually. Here’s what members of MOMS can look forward to:
- Prenatal home visits.
- Classes for the whole family.
- Support groups.
- Learning about oneself; sharing your story and building relationships with others; and empowering motherhood, family and children.
When I spoke with Andrea, she said that she felt blessed by everything that MOMS had done for her, and she carries a deep gratitude for the services she received. What speaks to the strong bonds developed by this group is that Andrea is still in contact with the women she met at Mommy-n-Me Classes hosted by MOMS—two years later.
After listening to the luncheon’s speakers, I had an itch to get involved. The work that MOMS Orange County does to assist with healthy babies and empowering families is simply unbelievable, and getting involved is incredibly easy. For example, I was told that I could do something as simple as hosting a diaper drive within my community.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the children are our future. So lets be that village to ensure a bright future.
Check out the article from Parenting OC as well.
