Some companies go above and beyond giving to their customers and supporting families. Motherlove Herbal Company was started by herbalist Kathryn Higgins out of a desire to help moms and families. Her vision has expanded to include a non-profit private foundation The Nurturing Life Foundation. Read this interview with the Motherlove founder to learn more about how she is nurturing life, families, and the earth through her company. Continuing the trend of giving nurturing support, Motherlove Herbal Company is also giving away a Nurturing Life Gift Box to 3 winners. I’m so grateful for the support of Motherlove for TLB and the friendship and encouragement of Kathryn.
TLB: How did the Nurturing Life Foundation come about?
Kathryn: The Nurturing Life Foundation is a non-profit, private foundation funded by Motherlove Herbal Company. When I founded Motherlove over 20 years ago, I knew that I wanted the company to give back. As part of our 15-year anniversary celebration, we were able to found the Nurturing Life Foundation as a way to do that.
TLB: I’m a huge fan of the Nurturing Life Foundation, can you give me a brief overview?
Kathryn: The name of the Nurturing Life Foundation comes from Motherlove’s tagline, Nurturing Life. That sums up what Motherlove is all about. We believe in the healing strength of Mother Earth and the wisdom of our bodies, as well as our responsibility to nurture Mother Earth. Our products are based on herbs and formulated for the pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding period in a woman’s life – precisely when she is nurturing life. Breastfeeding is truly the nurturing of life.
It’s the nurturing of the mother, her nurturing of the baby and our need to nurture Mother Earth that guide Motherlove in our day-to-day operations.
TLB: What does the Nurturing Life Foundation do?
Kathryn: The mission of The Nurturing Life Foundation is to promote breastfeeding and support mothers in need, as well as to create opportunities for children. We do that by donating 10% of every Motherlove product purchase to the Nurturing Life Foundation, who then uses that money to support organizations that work with breastfeeding moms and/or children in need.
One organization doing amazing work is BELLAS, which stands for Breastfeeding, Encouragement, Learning, Liaison, and Support. This program is a resource for low income, minority and teen moms who often lack the resources to obtain lactation assistance.
We also work with the Breastfeeding Resource Center, a community resource center that provides moms with expert clinical and educational breastfeeding resources. They work with local hospitals, educate moms at local events about the importance of breastfeeding and help moms with every stage of breastfeeding with free support classes and IBCLC support where payment is income-based.
Other organizations we are privileged to work with include Realities for Children and Mountain Park Environmental Center, both of which work with local kids.
TLB: What is one of your favorite stories connected to the Nurturing Life Foundation?
Kathryn: There are so many. Close to my heart are the stories about children who are overcoming life circumstances that should never happen to any child. Learning about these kids and being able to help is a remarkable experience.
Through our work with Realities for Children and their Triumph Awards, The Nurturing Life Foundation has been able to award full college scholarships to youth who would otherwise receive no support to get an education. These are young people who have overcome childhood abuse, but also triumphed over their situation academically, socially and personally.
A sister program to the Triumph Awards, the Keeping Dreams Alive program works with local agencies to identify children between the ages of 6-15 who are living in situations that might kill their dreams for a different future for themselves. The Nurturing Life Foundation participates in giving these children something tangible for their dream today.
One of the programs we support that is especially important to me is the Birds and Bees, Flowers and Trees, a camping experience for girls ages 12-15, created by the Mountain Park Environmental Center. Using a blend of sex education and nature education, this program empowers girls to be comfortable and knowledgeable about their bodies and the world around them in order to make healthy choices, care for the environment, and have thoughtful relationships.
TLB: How can others support the Nurturing Life Foundation?
Kathryn: Every time someone buys a Motherlove product, they are supporting the Nurturing Life Foundation. And by reading the descriptions of the non-profits that we support on the Nurturing Life Foundation’s website and the links to the profiles and letters we receive, you might very well be inspired to support these organizations with your own donations.
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Motherlove is giving away a Nurturing Life Giftbox, celebrating new motherhood, to 3 lucky winners:
Each Nurturing Life Giftbox is has a Retail value $59.95 and includes:
– environmentally responsible Motherlove tote bag
Currently Leakies can find these and other great pregnancy and nursing products on the Motherlove website and in some local retail stores and boutiques.
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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered, and check out motherlove.com for more products related to fertility, pregnancy, and nursing . The giveaway is open from September 25, 2012 through October 1, 2012. A big thanks to Kathryn and Motherlove for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women, please be sure to visit their Facebook page or follow them on twitter (@motherloveherb on Twitter) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.
This giveaway is open to US entries only.