By Glory Weisberg
Foundation Executive Director Robin Engleberg and Dr. Sharon Langendoerfer
Colorado’s first lady Jeannie Ritter was hostess to the Denver Health Foundation Newborns in Need Baby Shower at the Governor’s Residence, May 2, welcoming a strong turnout of women who came bearing just about every practical item a newborn needs.
A vast majority of women delivering babies at Denver Health are living at or below the poverty line. Many of them have nothing for the infant, maybe not even diapers or even bus tokens to help them takethem home, so about seven years ago then first lady Frances Owens, Jean Galloway and Debra Pain came up with the idea of having women of means hosting baby showers for women without means.
Frances Owens, Cheryl Preheim and her mom, LaDona Thomas
Since that time, the concept has spread to encourage all women to participate in the baby shower concept, asking for donations at their workplace, church or other places where people are among friends. Traci Tipton was recognized for putting playpens in corporate offices to encourage staff to drop needed items in the playpens in an ongoing drive. Liz Buckley and her Charity Chicks were honored as well and a contingent of the Chicks was at the mansion tea. Ryta Sondergard, Lyn Schaffer and I received certificates for being “Special Friends for helping Denver Health’s Babies” by holding NIN showers each July for four years.
The Denver Health Foundation now additionally starts off the summer of baby showers by collecting donations curbside at the hospital.
Mother-daughter duo Kristin Frakes and Dawn Anna. Photos by Glory Weisberg.
Paula Herzmark is executive director of the Denver Health Foundation and she surprised a contingent of attendees with certificates making them “Special Friends to Newborns In Need.” Paula herself received the Athena Award.
“I’ve always wanted to be known as a Greek goddess,” she said.
Handing out a lot of praise for the NIN program and what Denver Health does, neonatologist Dr. Sharon Langendoerfer, a.k.a. “Dr. Sharon,” captured the spirit of the hospital and what goes on there day in and day out as women deliver babies with little or no ways to take care of them and she also noted that the NIN program is alleviating some of that economic desperation these women must surely be feeling as they try to begin caring for their new infants.
What newborns need are the bare necessities and a Stitch and Bitch club makes quilts for the babies. Then there’s the National Charity League, which was also out in force for the tea, and Girl Scouts from Mapleton Elementary School who were honored as well.
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