The Maternal League of Memphis is a benevolent and charitable organization established in 1935 to assist in meeting the needs of mothers and their newborn infants. We continue to fulfill this mission in a multitude of ways.

Our signature Layette Program, unique to the Memphis area, has been serving needy families for decades. In the past year, we provided over 500 layettes (diapers, blankets, sleepers, bottles, etc.) to needy mothers and babies. The layettes are distributed through the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department.

A favorite activity of Maternal League members is working shifts in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center. Members volunteer hundreds of service hours each year giving care and love to at-risk infants whose parents are not able to be there during the baby's extended stay in the NICU.

Memphis has the highest rate of infant mortality of the sixty largest cities in the United States. In fact, the infant mortality rate in some Shelby County zip codes is higher than in some third world nations. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a component of this high mortality rate. Proper positioning of sleeping babies has been proven to lower the rate of SIDS. Maternal League's newest goal, initiated in 2004, is to provide a simple, effective way to educate mothers and caregivers in our community by providing each newborn in Shelby County with a tee shirt stating THIS SIDE UP on the front. Decreasing the incidence of SIDS will further the goal of helping to reduce infant mortality in Memphis and Shelby County.

Maternal League of Memphis provides assistance to Hope House, the only facility in the state of Tennessee designed to meet the unique needs of children affected by HIV. In addition to volunteering for fundraisers, Maternal League donates financially to Hope House each year.

Maternal League programs are supported by donations received through various fundraisers such as The Grisanti Dinner, which is held in the fall and The Mother's Day Layette Letter Fund Drive, which is held in the spring. Layette donations may be given “in honor of” and “in memory of” someone special throughout the year.

Maternal League of Memphis is a 501c3 charitable organization. All donations are completely tax deductible.