I am going to tell you a little secret- I’ve had an empty post with this title sitting in my drafts since I started this blog. It was a dream of mine to start a nonprofit- and to run it. Make Your Mark was a successful program, but the truth is there is just so much more out there- so much more that needs to be done. It was that momentum paired with our own NICU experience that got me excited to explore what needed to be done to make sure others weren’t left in the same boat I was. So here it is.

We are officially a nonprofit organization! We are 100% volunteer-based and focus on family bonding with children in the hospital. Our programs include the Make Your Mark financial assistance program to help qualified families by covering a monthly payment if a parent needs to step away from work to care for their child. Our Mark’s Mission program includes collecting and distributing preemie onesies, baby blankets, and board books to our local NICUs to promote family bonding. Our programs are 100% funded by the generosity of our donors.

Since becoming official (and announcing it), we’ve had a number of people reach out to ask how they can help- or what we need to carry out our mission. It is a bunch to take in all at once so I am going to kind of break it down on how you can help us be of service to our community.

1. Donate a Preemie onesie, Board book, or Baby blanket. Since Make Your Mark was established as a program in 2019, we have proudly donated over 1,150 items to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. None of this can be achieved without the help of our donors. Whether you are local and have just purchased an item for donation, or you order one from our Amazon Wishlist, we are eternally grateful- and so are our NICU families.
2. Make a Monetary Donation. We are 100% Volunteer-based. This means I do, nor does anyone else, draw a profit or income from any of this. Our programs and our organization’s stability rely heavily on the support of our donors. No matter the amount, we are grateful. A $5.00 donation can purchase a board book for a family to read together in the NICU. A $100.00 donation can go toward a bill that a family may be struggling to pay since one parent had to leave their job to care for a child in the hospital. Regardless of how much you donate, it helps us give back to our community.
3. Host a Fundraiser or Become a Partner. Our organization can only do so much to spread the word and do fundraisers. If you’re looking for a fun way to give back without having to reach into your wallet, consider hosting a fundraiser with us, or become a partner! Our community partnerships are beneficial to our local economy and to our constituents. Have your own business? Let Mark’s Mission join in on the fun. We would love to work with you to design something for our NICU Grad bags. We would love to advertise your business and how you’ve impacted our community through our programs. Interested in participating in a silent auction? We would love to help you raise awareness for your business while raising funds for a great cause! Something so small can mean the absolute world.
4. Follow Us on Social Media. In the age of technology, social media is King… or Queen, rather. Something as simple as a like, a share, or comment will introduce others to our mission. As I mentioned earlier, my reach is only so far- so, in my opinion, the most generous thing anyone could do to help us is to follow our social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

None of this, any of this…. would’ve been possible without you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for supporting me through all of this- being on our journey, and watching us grow. I know sometimes it may not show, but I am so incredibly grateful for you, reader. This is a journey and it’s far from over-motherhood, Mark’s journey, schooling, and now CEO-hood. If that isn’t a word, it should be.

Our website is still under construction, but still… let’s celebrate!

www.marksmission.org