Gratitude

Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin recently completed a record-breaking year, with more milk donors providing more milk for more babies in more hospitals and outpatient homes than ever before. Looking back, I’m overwhelmed by the number of individuals, charitable foundations, and businesses who support our work. We thank all of them and hope they inspire others to help babies in need.

Many of you know we moved into a larger, state-of-the-art facility in 2017. Since we won’t need all the space in the short run, we took on an excellent tenant last year, Acton Imprimis, a small, private school. We’re grateful to Kevin Jones of Structura, Inc. for donating his time to supervise the tenant fit-out; Structura is the general contractor that did an outstanding job for us in 2017. We thank also Christy Mosely of Native Sun Landscape Design, who donated her time and vision to create a beautiful landscape of grasses and flowers surrounding the milk bank, attracting butterflies and bees in a space that celebrates nature.

Dedicated volunteers contribute immense amounts of time and energy to our life-saving mission. Our board of directors is deeply engaged in strategic planning, program review, and fundraising. The Junior League of Austin has supported us for two decades, providing funds for our Charitable Care Program and volunteers who work in our labs. And let us recognize Ann McGinnis, who has volunteered twice a week for 14 years to process the milk we dispense to babies in need.

All non-profit organizations depend on funding. While our earned-revenue model supports milk processing and dispensing to hospitals, our many generous partners support our broader mission. Time and again the St. David’s Foundation has answered our requests for help – underwriting the mortgage for our property and, most recently, funding a new program focused on breastfeeding education in communities lacking access to resources. Numerous others provided financial and in-kind donations via Amplify Austin, at our own “Under the Milk Way” event, and through other channels.

Milk donors numbered 1,475 in 2019 -- all busy, tired, and pulled in different directions, yet committed to donating their milk to save babies’ lives. These women are the true super heroes, and we thank them for answering the call. We are grateful also to the equal number who reached out to donate but couldn’t. Their compassion and desire to help inspire us – thank you moms!

MMBA is fortunate to have recruited a staff dedicated to pursuing our life-saving mission, working tirelessly with humor, intelligence, and sensitivity to those who serve and are served by the milk bank. It’s an honor to be their leader.

On behalf of the babies and their families, the board and staff, the, let me convey thanks to all our supporters and friends who made 2019 such a successful year. We’re focused on reaching even loftier goals in 2020. Please join us.

Kim

Executive Director