10.30.17
Huggies has awarded four hospitals with $10,000 No Baby Unhugged grants to help support or establish volunteer hugging programs, which provide much-needed physical human interaction for newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). These four recipients join an additional seven hospitals that received No Baby Unhugged grants earlier this year.
"We truly believe in the powerful impact that hugs and the human touch can have on babies' growth and development, especially for those born premature and in the NICU," says Giusy Buonfantino, president of Kimberly-Clark Baby and Child Care North America. "A cause close to our hearts, Huggies is continually committed to providing hospitals with the resources needed to help grow these programs, and ensure the babies who benefit from them thrive."
The four hospitals receiving grants in October include:
"Brigid's Path is Ohio's first newborn recovery center for babies born drug-exposed and a place where the hugging program will have such a huge impact," says Jane Snyder, director of Development, Brigid's Path. "This Huggies No Baby Unhugged Grant will help us maintain a volunteer program that focuses on hugging, cuddling and skin to skin contact for our NAS babies."
"We truly believe in the powerful impact that hugs and the human touch can have on babies' growth and development, especially for those born premature and in the NICU," says Giusy Buonfantino, president of Kimberly-Clark Baby and Child Care North America. "A cause close to our hearts, Huggies is continually committed to providing hospitals with the resources needed to help grow these programs, and ensure the babies who benefit from them thrive."
The four hospitals receiving grants in October include:
- Brigid's Path - Kettering, OH: This grant will allow Brigid's Path to launch a new hugging program, which will be Ohio's first newborn recovery center for infants suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA: Resources from the grant will support their expanding hugging program, which has seen an increase in volunteers. The hospital is also home to the "ICU Grandpa" who recently gained notoriety for his dedication to holding babies.
- Rush University Children's Hospital - Chicago, IL: Funding from the grant will help supply additional mannequins for training new volunteers, printed educational materials, enhancements to the cuddler environment, and more.
- St. Vincent Healthcare - Billings, MT: The No Baby Unhugged grant will help launch a new volunteer hugging program and add another level of therapy care that focuses on education and addresses diversity amongst patient population.
"Brigid's Path is Ohio's first newborn recovery center for babies born drug-exposed and a place where the hugging program will have such a huge impact," says Jane Snyder, director of Development, Brigid's Path. "This Huggies No Baby Unhugged Grant will help us maintain a volunteer program that focuses on hugging, cuddling and skin to skin contact for our NAS babies."
