Nurses for Newborns Foundation hosted its annual dinner auction, "A Night for Newborns", Sunday, April 19th, 2015, at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. The event began at 5:00 pm with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner, the program, as well as an exciting live auction.
An extremely talented a cappella group, One Too Many, preformed during the cocktail hour among the many guests socializing and perusing the silent auction. Before the elegant dinner. guests also had the opportunity to purchase a Tiffany Box which contained a mystery gift. One of the fifty boxes had a major piece of Tiffany jewelry. All guests were encouraged to wait until the Tiffany Box Opening at the end of the evening to reveal each box's contents.
Nurses for Newborns president Dr. Teri Murray and executive director Melinda Ohlemiller presented the Champion for Families Award to Thelma Steward for the unrelenting care and generosity she has shown our community and all of the mothers and babies that are an integral part of it.
One of the amusing highlights that has become a tradition revolved around another award presentation that is named in honor of McGraw Milhaven, KTRS morning drive time host and long time supporter. The McGraw Milhaven Award is given to an individual or company that advances the mission of Nurses for Newborns Foundation by "giving the most and asking the least". This year's special honor went to Dave Kodner, Kodner Jewelers.
The evening concluded with a Fund-A-Need Appeal, which raised nearly $100,000, and an exciting live auction featuring baseball tickets, elegant dinners, and so many more fabulous items and opportunities. The net funds raised from the Dinner Auction will benefit the NFNF's programs and services.
Nurses for Newborns Foundation exists to offer a safety net for families most at-risk to prevent infant mortality, child abuse and neglect by providing in-home nursing visits which promote healthcare, education, and positive parenting skills. It also renders services to babies who are born with medical problems, born to teen moms or born to mothers with disabilities/mental health concerns, or who are born into families who do not have money for even basic necessities.
Besides medical care, it assists families whenever possible with donated materials required for proper hygiene and nutritional care, such as diapers, formula, baby food, clothing, bedding, and cribs. NFNF welcomes hundreds of volunteers each year who help manage the logistics of this work.
Eliana Poger, Stephanie Poger, Dave Kodner and Maya Poger.