Last year more than three hundred babies under one year of age died in Broward County. Three hundred families lost an integral part of their lives. These tiny lives should never be forgotten. That is why the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Broward’s 12th Annual Forget Me Not Memorial Event will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008 from 11 am – 2 pm at the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood. This event, a memorial tradition which brings friends and families together to remember all of the babies who have died but are not forgotten, is open to anyone who wishes to commemorate a pregnancy loss or a fetal or infant death. The Forget Me Not event is free and everyone is welcome, whether you lost your baby yesterday or years ago, this is a time to remember and to be with others who have suffered a similar loss.

Donations and sponsorships for the Forget Me Not Event support the Forget Me Not Fund. This reserve was established five years ago to ensure that all babies get the burial or cremation they deserve and to provide bereavement support to grieving families. It costs hundreds of dollars to bury or cremate a baby … an amount of money so many families cannot afford. Qualified families may apply to the Fund for burial or cremation assistance and receive up to $500 for a burial or $250 for a cremation from the Fund. Through the generosity of individuals and corporations alike, the Forget Me Not Fund has been able to assist so many families to lay their cherished babies to rest with dignity when they could not have afforded to do so on their own. Bereavement counseling services are provided one on one and in support group situations by RTS trained bereavement counselors. The Forget-Me-Not Fund helps families during an especially devastating time in their lives and the event itself touches the lives of these families by helping them to heal and find the hope and strength they need to go on.

Anyone who is interested in participating in the Forget Me Not event by attending, donating or sponsoring, please contact Michelle Reese, Event Coordinator at 954.765.0550 Ext. 328. or mreese@hmhbbroward.org.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County, Inc. (HMHB of Broward) recognized 21 years of serving the Broward community and honored ten (10) outstanding individuals as the Mothers and Father of the Year on May 8th at their 16th Annual Mother’s Day Celebration & Luncheon. More than three hundred people gathered at the Signature Grand in Davie to support HMHB of Broward and our organization’s mission of reducing fetal and infant mortality throughout the county.

This year’s honorees included a distinguished list of individuals including: President and Owner of Ocean to Ocean Healthcare, Tina Yeager Dargavage; Community Activist and Philanthropist, Sharon Gustafson; Broward County Human Services Social Worker, Helen Hinton; Nurse, Community Activist and Guardian Ad Litem, Doreen Scott; Broward County School Board program manager for Homeless Education and Character Education, Dianne Sepielli; Community Advocate against domestic violence, Esther Shacket; Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin; Executive Director and Founder of the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Dr. Susan Widmayer; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Broward’s Teen Mother of the year, Priscilla Fernandez; and Congressman Alcee Hastings’ Chief of Staff, Mr. Art Kennedy. Each of these individuals was recognized for demonstrating the outstanding qualities of parenthood … kindness, caring, sacrifice and generosity to children ... for being individuals who go above and beyond the scope of their home and work responsibilities to ensure all children get the quality of life they deserve.

Trina Robinson from NBC6 served as emcee of the event for the second year. Her admiration for HMHB of Broward’s mission was contagious. She really knew how to get the crowd motivated!

Top sponsors for the event were Untied Healthcare as the Title Sponsor; Sharon Gustafson and the Florescue Family Foundation as the Presenting Sponsors; Pediatrix Medical Group and Broward Health as Premier Sponsors; and Holy Cross Hospital as the Featured Sponsor.

The celebration was a happy one with fierce competition at the Silent Auction tables and a raffle ticket buying frenzy at lunch! Winners went home with great prizes but in the end, it was Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County that was the real winner. Between ticket sales, auctions and raffles, $53,000 was raised to help continue the work Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Broward does in the community.

2008 Outstanding Mothers of the Year!	2008 Father of the Year!
	Art Kennedy

View Song Lyrics for "From This Moment"

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County, Inc. is proud to formally announce that Billboard chart topping artist Rachel Brown has embraced both our mission and the mothers and babies we serve and is lending her voice as a spokeswoman for the agency. Rachel and her producer, Israel Charles, have already written a song specifically for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies of Broward and Rachel has performed it at Aril’s Call to Action as well as at our Mother’s Day Mother’s Day Celebration in May.

Rachel’s passion for her music flows through her blood and fills her heart and soul. Her first CD features a delicate blend of R&B dance grooves, love songs, and inspirational messages. "I want my music to move my listeners not just on the dance floor ... but to encourage, motivate and heal," states Rachel. "Singing is a natural high for me. It takes me to another realm. Those are the feelings I want my audience to experience, too. I want them to be moved through my music, to feel transported.” That’s what Rachel’s voice will do to you: warmly invite you in, take you on a new journey and inspire you to embrace your passion.

“From this Moment” exemplifies Rachel’s passion for children. A mother herself, Rachel has spent years both volunteering for children’s organizations and heading her own children’s foundation. Rachel’s support of our agency will do much to highlight the importance and impact of what we are doing in the community.

Born and raised in Lufkin, Texas, Rachel grew up like many of her singing idols singing in the church. She began her own musical journey at the age of 6 when she started singing and studying piano. She sang in choirs and gospel groups all through her school years.

Rachel’s first CD, Love, Life & Relationships, celebrates the vast richness and musical diversity of Soul and Contemporary R&B. It highlights her perfect intonation, fresh interpretation and pure musicality. This debut release spawned the chart topper Let’s Fall In Love Again, a single that peaked twice at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles Sales chart.

In an era where most singers are manufactured and packaged for entertainment value, Rachel Brown brings a different “package” to the table: a powerful, yet sophisticated blend of beauty; exceptional natural vocal talent; and a commitment to music that has meaning.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County is grateful to Rachel for her support of our mission and for her willingness to bring our message into the community. We encourage you to support Rachel as well.

Look for information about Rachel, her CD Love Life & Relationships and her upcoming performances at www.RachelBrownlive.com.

Feature Article about Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of  Broward County, Inc. appearing in the Sun Sentinel Sunday August 10th, 2008