Mead Johnson Nutrition and Hand to Hold Seek to Honor NICU Heroes
Parents of Preterm and Medically Fragile Infants Are Invited to Nominate Outstanding NICU Professionals for Second Annual NICU Heroes Awards
According to the March of Dimes, one in ten babies born in the US has medical needs at birth that are so serious that they need intensive care in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Families of preemies and babies born with special health needs are often overwhelmed by their need for information and support while a baby is in the NICU, and NICU professionals can make a huge difference in the lives of these parents and their families.
“Mead Johnson Nutrition and Hand to Hold’s Second Annual NICU Heroes
Awards gives families an opportunity to publicly thank someone who made
a significant impact in the life of their children and family,” said
Graciela Monteagudo, Senior Vice President and General Manager,
This year’s NICU Heroes Awards has been expanded to honor two NICU health care professionals for their compassion and dedication to improving outcomes for medically fragile babies and their families. Each nominee will receive a certificate of appreciation and a copy of their nominating essay.
During the nomination period that ends
Two nominees will be chosen as winners by an independent panel of NICU health care professionals and NICU parents from around the country. During the NICU Heroes Awards ceremony at their hospital, winners will receive:
- a trophy and certificate, presented at the winner’s hospital;
- a $2,500 donation in their name to the pediatric healthcare charity of their choice*; and
-
a one-year subscription to the Hand to
Hold Resource Library , designed to provide education to parents during a NICU stay, for the winner’s hospital.
* Certain limitations may apply
Winners will also be recognized at the National Association of Neonatal
Nursing (NANN) Annual
“NICU heroes understand that in order for babies to thrive, they must have smart, informed parents who are capable of meeting their child’s needs after discharge,” explained Kelli Kelley, Founder and Executive Director, Hand to Hold and mother of two preemies. “We are grateful for the NICU heroes who reach beyond their job descriptions to provide comfort, understanding and words of encouragement to help parents navigate their NICU journey. Our NICU Heroes strive to integrate parents into the daily care of their baby to ensure they are ready to meet the needs of a medically fragile child after discharge.”
In 2013, the award’s inaugural year, parents and caregivers nominated
more than 130 healthcare professionals. Neonatologist Dr. Gerard Cleary
of
Parents and guardians of children admitted to any NICU can submit
nominations online at www.handtohold.org/hero through
About
Mead Johnson, a global leader in pediatric nutrition, develops, manufactures, markets and distributes more than 70 products in over 50 markets worldwide. The company's mission is to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life. The Mead Johnson name has been associated with science-based pediatric nutrition products for over 100 years. The company’s Enfa™ family of brands, including Enfamil® infant formula, is the world's leading brand franchise in pediatric nutrition. For more information, go to www.meadjohnson.com.
About Hand to Hold
Hand to Hold is a community-based, national support program for parents of preemies, babies born with a special health care need and those who have experienced loss due to these or other complications. The nonprofit organization’s vision is to enable a network of families to offer support, comfort and understanding to one another, and to provide them with knowledge, information and resources to ensure the best outcome for their children and family. For more information, go to www.handtohold.org.
Source:
Mead Johnson Nutrition
Pashen Black, (847) 832-2179
pashen.black@mjn.com
or
Hand
to Hold
Laura Bond Williams, (512) 497-8035
laura@momentum-pr.com
or
Anne
Lasseigne Tiedt, APR, (512) 784-3805
anne@momentum-pr.com
5/22/2014