Yes, we’ve been busy little philanthropists lately! Our most recent beneficiary – the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Kansas City Chapter. This group is passionate, seriously dedicated, to their mission to “find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.” To support their mission, we donated two custom myubby blankets to their annual Dream Gala on May 7. More than 750 people attended this elegant affair, and myubby was happy to be a part of the event – and the mission to cure juvenile diabetes. You can help too – check out their website at drf.org.

Giving back to the community is incredibly important to myubby. Each year, we make several donations to organizations that touch our heart. A recent example – The Mission Project. This group is phenomenal! The organization, led by parents and Kansas City area volunteers, enables capable adults with developmental or cognitive disabilities to live independently and safely in community with minimal support. Currently, 15 participants in their 20s and 30s – all diagnosed with some form of Down syndrome, Autism or Asperger’s syndrome – live, work and interact with the community in Mission, Kansas – just a short drive from our new Overland Park boutique. The Mission Project provides transportation to jobs and recreational events, access to continuing education and fitness facilities like the Sylvester Powell Community Center, a 24-hour help and information hotline and more.

Of course, we want to help this organization in any way we can. To start, we’ve donated two blankets for a silent auction at their annual Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Gala, and we hope to do much more in the future. The myubby team would love to have The Mission Project participants out to our Overland Park shop to create their own myubby blankets; if they’re living on their own, they need a nice, cuddly throw, right? And we’d love to welcome all new participants to The Mission Project with special myubby creations as well.

We’ll let you know what comes next – in the meantime, check out their website at themissionproject.org. They have a golf tournament coming up June 27 that we just might have to take part in too!

Those of us at myubby recently learned of an incredible new resource for area families, and we couldn’t wait to be a part of it! Parenting Children with Special Needs is a bi-monthly magazine  serving more than 50,000 families in the Kansas City area and now also in Columbia and Jefferson City, Missouri. The magazine was started by an area mom of a little boy with kidney disease who wanted to provide families a resource for information, support and hope. The publisher, Stephanie Myers, also believes in “paying it forward” – as do we at myubby. Since the magazine’s launch in July 2010, Parenting Children with Special Needs has:

• Donated wheelchairs and walkers to two families;
• Held two free events for families of children with special needs;
• Made Christmas wishes come true to five families with terminally ill children;
• Honored two special needs educators with a feature article, award and money for the classroom; and
• Sponsored the Kansas City Trolley Run benefiting the Children’s Center for Visual Impaired, sharing our magazine with more than 10,000 participants,

Incredible! Parenting Children with Special Needs amazing support of the community is just one reason myubby decided to become a partner, donating special myubby blankets to the magazine’s feature families each issue. The May-June issue of Parenting Children with Special Needs features 8-year-old Kaiden, who was born without part of his right arm. Despite many challenges, Kaiden is an active little boy who plays soccer, runs on his school’s track team and has a truly positive outlook on life. Kaiden and his mom, Carlee, are coming in to our nearly-opened Overland Park, Kansas, boutique very soon to create their own custom myubby blankets. We can’t wait to meet you, Kaiden! Stay tuned for photos of Kaiden’s day at myubby – and information on more feature families we’re proud to donate ubbies to in the months to come! And learn more about Parenting Children with Special Needs at pcwsn.com.

Every month at myubby, we receive wonderful photos of babies and toddlers from our customers. It bring great pleasure to everyone at myubby to see your little angels cuddling up with a custom made and personalized baby blanket from myubby. We appreciate the time and creative effort our customers put into each blanket design. In return, we take great pride in manufacturing a high quality blanket that will last a lifetime.

Below are a few of the adorable baby photos we received last month.  Such cuties!!  Enjoy!

April 2011 baby-with-blanket Photo of the Month

Thanks to everyone who shared wonderful baby and toddler photos with us throughout the month of April. Once again the selection process was difficult as all your baby and baby blanket photos were awesome. Every time we receive a new baby-with-blanket photo or toddler-with-blanket photo at myubby it makes us smile – and realize why we started myubby.com. It’s cool to know that every blanket you design will become a life-long part of a family.

We’ll be announcing our May Photo of the Month $50 giveaway this week so please check back. All entries will get a 30% off discount code simply for participating in the May giveaway.

Congratulations to Myla!  Her smile warms our hearts!  ♥