“Editorial in The Commercial Appeal, Sunday, March 13, 2005 ”

Maternal League's helping hand

Maternal League of Memphis has worked for more than 70 years to alleviate problems related to infant mortality. Our organization helped fund the first prenatal clinic in South Memphis. Over the years we have worked in neonatal intensive care units of several hospitals, feeding, holding and nurturing tiny newborns in crisis.

In the early 1990s, Maternal League won recognition for our "Sunrise Program," which helped educate teen mothers from pregnancy through two years post-partum. Every year we donate 500 layettes to children from needy families, and provide transportation for 300 teenagers to participate in a teen parenting workshop.

Our latest program involves the distribution of newborn T-shirts with "This Side Up" printed on the front, along with educational materials, to all babies born in Shelby County . These materials will serve as a reminder to fight Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by putting babies to sleep on their backs.

With no government funding and no paid staff, our small group of women has only our hard work and determination to help mothers and babies in need. Our success depends on business sponsorship and community support to raise the funds to continue this important mission.

Denise Fabian

President, Maternal League of Memphis