Nationwide Contest To Honor Best Moms
“To be a mother is the greatest vocation in the world. No being has a position of such great power and influence. She holds in her hands the destiny of nations, for to her is necessarily committed the making of the nation’s citizens.”
Hannah Whitall Smith
Mothers are indispensable. They have healed our hurts, cheered our successes and calmed our fears. Here are some ways to honor the mothers in your life on May 11 and beyond.
Has your mother, or a woman you know, worked selflessly to enhance the lives of children?
Steiff USA, the Teddy bear company, wants to honor remarkable women in their nationwide contest, “Unsung Heroines.”
“We are asking people across the country to suggest worthy women in their communities,” says James Maccario, president of Steiff USA. “Their area of service might be child health, education, foster care, saving abused children or aiding the handicapped.”
They are not looking for celebrities. Rather, the grassroots program hopes to recognize hard-working individuals who have bettered the lives of children through their efforts.
Steiff USA will select five winners and will contribute $1,000 to the charity of each woman’s choice.
To enter the contest, write and tell about your nominee, what she has done or is doing in the community. Be as detailed as necessary; there is no length requirement.
Print the nominee’s name and address with the essay and send to: Nominating Committee, Steiff USA, 31 E. 28 Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10016. The deadline is Aug. 31.
FTD Florist is offering a Mother’s Day special with a portion of its proceeds to benefit a worthy cause.
On any order of flowers, plants or gourmet items, FTD will deduct 5 percent from the total. Additionally, FTD will make a 5 percent donation to Mothers’ Voices, an agency working for the prevention, research and treatment of AIDS among children.
To take advantage of the offer, call FTD at (800) 736-3383 and mention the Mothers’ Voices charity number, No. 4247.
At-home motherhood combines raising an active family, managing a household and budget, serving in the community and sometimes running a home-based business.
Offering support to this group of women is a newly founded organization called the National Association of At-Home Mothers.
Membership to the association is $18 per year, which includes a subscription to At-Home Mothering, a quarterly magazine which addresses a variety of topics of interest to mothers at home.
Additionally, members receive free or discounted services, free classified ads and access to a national referral network.
In time for Mother’s Day, the organization offers the At-Home Motherhood Resource Catalog, a free publication which compiles a listing of quality books at a discount as well as articles and tips for at-home mothering. Included are sections on flexible work options, earning and saving money, parenting skills, home management and home schooling.
For a complimentary copy of the At-Home Motherhood Resource Catalog or information on the National Association of At-Home Mothers, write to: At-Home Mothers’ Resource Center, 406 E. Buchanan Ave., Fairfield, IA 52556.
, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track offers notes and information for families. Write to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.