Despite the fact that there is so much education in schools and on the internet these days, thousands of young women and teens struggle with the decision of 'keeping their baby' when they lack the financial, physical, and emotional support throughout their pregnancy. This is where Debbe Magnusen, Founder & CEO of Project Cuddle comes in:
(From Project the Project Cuddle Website)
'I realized at the age of 8 that I wanted to save babies from abandonment when I grew up. The reason was simple...I had seen a dirty, naked newborn with the umbilical cord still attached in an orphanage where I was volunteering with my parents in Mexico. Seeing tragedy made me realize that someday, I was going to try and stop this tragedy from happening. After fostering 35 drug-exposed and adopting 5 of these wonderful children, I still kept hearing about babies that were being abandoned. After hearing about a baby found dead in a file cabinet at Yamaha USA just a few cities away in January of 1996, I was shook up and didn't understand why the woman didn’t bring the baby to me? I couldn't imagine anything more horrible than being a newborn baby and laying there while slowly dying...alone' -Debbe Magnusen
___________
History
Project cuddle is the result of one woman's crusade to help prevent infants from being abandoned. Debbe Magnusen fostered over 30 drug-exposed babies, while raising two biological children. Eventually five of those beautiful little ones were adopted and became part of the Magnusen Family. Debbe is the author of 'Don’t Abandon Your Baby' and 'It's Never Dull!!' Each book shares true and action packed adventures of girls/women that kept their pregnancies a secret.....babies that we almost abandoned. Lives forever changed because of Debbe, her wonderful family, and her band of dedicated and caring volunteers across the nation.
The Project Cuddle crisis line was started in the living room of Debbe's home with the hope of ending baby abandonment. Within 12 hours of opening the 24 hour crisis-line, Project Cuddle received it's first crisis call. A frightened woman, who had hidden her pregnancy from everyone she knew. She was due to deliver at any minute and planned to put the newborn in the park. There was no time to waste! Debbe had only days to orchestrate a safe and legal alternative to abandonment. Project Cuddle was able to retain an attorney, a family yearning to rescue and adopt the baby, as well as an obstetrician, hospital, and counselor. Debbe Magnusen coached this woman through the delivery of a beautiful baby girl. After the baby was delivered into the arms of the adoptive parents, the birth mother said to Debbe. 'I feel like I've done something I can be proud of for the first time.' The woman did not break the law. The baby was safe and a rescue couple was overjoyed at having a new daughter in their lives.
Statistics indicate that: 57 children are abandoned EVERY DAY tragically, babies are being abandoned across the nation on a daily basis. Since it's inception, Project Cuddle has saved over 77 babies across the Country and into Canada from the fate of being abandoned, or worse.
John Stamos is the National Spokesperson for the Project Cuddle Organization. With John's help, Project Cuddle has been able to create a school video to educate students about the importance of calling for help instead of abandoning a baby. In May of 2009, Oprah Winfrey and John Stamos surprised Debbe and Project Cuddle by being feature on The Oprah WInfrey Show.
Project Cuddle was incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit Charity in 1994. A volunteer Board of Directors oversees the Organization, which Debbe runs on a day-to-day basis with the assistance of volunteer and a minimally-paid staff. Generous donations help to save babies from the fate of abandonment. There are many ways to help and if you wish to, please go to www.projectcuddle.org
____________
Editors Note:
This is an Organization that Starlight Music Chronicles supports by being a Catalyst/Media platform to spread Debbe's message for Project Cuddle through articles and content in support. I first learned of Project Cuddle via Stephanie Rachel, CEO of the Parliament Management and I look forward to launching a full feature in the coming months on these group of Angels who have come together to help young women overcome their fears. This is a cause that is dear to my heart as at one time, I was in a position of fear also and was grateful I had the support in place that I did (that being, my family). Not everyone is that lucky and no one should be left in a position where they are scared and pushed to limits where they make choices that become irreparable. I commend Debbe and her Organization on helping these women get the direction they need to move in a positive direction forward!
Sincerely,
CA Marshall
_____________
To Contact Project Cuddle:
Website: www.projectcuddle.org
If pregnant please call their Crisis Hotline at:
*Note: these numbers are for crisis calls only
English 1.888.628.3353
Spanish 1.888.483.2323
For Non-Crisis calls contact:
1.714.432.9681
Email: info@projectcuddle.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCuddle
Twitter: @Project_Cuddle
National Spokesperson Twitter: @JohnStamos
_____________________
Upcoming Events:
No comments:
Post a Comment