Gift of Life Foundation was recently awarded an $80,000 grant from the Children's Trust Fund of Alabama to support its Nurse-Family Partnership Program.

GOL received the award based on its strong, demonstrated record of delivering child abuse and neglect prevention education through its home visiting programs.

We'd like to thank CTF for supporting the important work that we do and their support of home visiting programs like NFP which equip parents with the parenting skills they need to reduce child abuse and neglect.

Are you pregnant or a parenting teen? Gift of Life’s Parenting Forward Program Can Help You! Find out how at our Summer Orientation Session on Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 10 a.m. Juliet Hampton Morgan Library 245 High Street- Downtown Montgomery. Parenting Forward gives teen moms and dads the education, support and connection to community resources that they need to become a great parent and plan for a successful future at no cost. Door prizes and giveaways will be given away, plus community resources! To register to attend the session, go to https://golfound.org/events or call Tina Berry at (334) 272-1820. Children are welcome. The session is free.

MONTGOMERY, AL - Gift of Life Nurse Family Partnership mom and GOL CAN ambassador AnDrika Harmon has been selected to represent the state of Alabama at ZERO TO THREE’S Strolling Thunder on the nation’s capital on April 30, 2019.

AnDrika and her baby Zion will join families representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia to meet members of Congress in Washington D.C. and share with them what babies and families need to thrive, including affordable child care, paid maternity leave, nutrition, and programs that support social/emotional development of babies. They will also participate in a rally on the East Lawn of the Capitol and will have lunch at the White House.

AnDrika was selected based on a short video that she entered on ZERO TO THREE'S Strolling Thunder's Website. ZERO TO THREE will pay the cost of her flight and hotel accommodations.

This is one of many accomplishments AnDrika has made in GOL’s NFP program. Last year, she was featured on NPR’s Story Corps where she discussed the need to preserve funding for the SNAP Program for working families. She also had an opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Martha Roby at the Gift of Life office to discuss the need for affordable childcare and money and resources for early learning programs.

She participates in NFP with Nurse Home Visitor Kristi Gay. 

Here is a link to Strolling Thunder. https://www.thinkbabies.org/strollingthunder/

MEDIA ADVISORY                    

MEDIA CONTACT: Mona Davis, Assistant Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Office: (334) 273-7800 / Mobile: (334) 546-7181 / Email: mdavis@golfound.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2019

MONTGOMERY, AL -The Gift of Life Foundation (GOL) has received a share of $100 million in grant funding recently awarded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support organizations that work to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce infant mortality in communities nationwide.

The Gift of Life will receive $4,760,420 million in grant funding through HRSA’s Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health over the next five years. The funding will support Gift of Life’s home visiting and family coaching programs and a wide range of services GOL offers for women, children, and families, including linkage to social services; developmental screening, breastfeeding support; interconception education; father involvement activities and community outreach.

Gift of Life and the other organizations who received funding were selected based on having a strong record of producing positive outcomes in communities with infant mortality rates at least 1.5 times the U.S. national average. Grantees received up to $1.1 million each year over five years.

“We are thrilled to be awarded the grant for a second time,” said GOL Executive Director Dr. Regina Traylor. “It’s a huge validation of the work Gift of Life has been doing in communities, but it also indicates the work that still needs to be accomplished to improve our infant mortality rate and provide the needed supports that strengthen children and families and improve the health of our community,” she said.

 “I’m so proud of our dedicated staff and the commitment of our board and community partners who are integral to the work that we do,” said Traylor.

Administered by HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Healthy Start aims to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy; and, to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in rates of infant death as well as negative health outcomes in the first 18 months of life.

For a list of Healthy Start award recipients, visit: https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/healthy-start/awards.

MEDIA ADVISORY                    

MEDIA CONTACT: Mona Davis, Marketing and Community Outreach Director Office: (334) 273-7800 / Mobile: (334) 546-7181 / Email: mdavis@golfound.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2019

Gift of Life Foundation Names Interim Executive Director

MONTGOMERY, AL - The Gift of Life Foundation (GOL) Board of Directors has appointed veteran maternal child health administrator Dr. Regina Traylor, DHSc, as the organization’s interim executive director.

Traylor, who also serves as GOL’s director of family coaching programs, succeeds former executive director Dr. Cheryl G. Davis, who held the position since 2016. Traylor brings a diverse breadth of experience to the role with more than two decades of leadership in public health nursing, maternal child health program management, quality improvement, program evaluation and nursing education programs.

Prior to coming to Gift of Life in July 2018, Traylor served as public health nursing and special programs supervisor and director of the Ingham County Health Department Maternal Child Health Division in Lansing, Michigan. Her duties included directing the activities of several departments including Public Health Nursing, Children’s Special Health Care, Family Outreach Services and the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). She also provided day-to-day supervision to the nursing staff and the WIC coordinator, and was responsible for ensuring all programs meet federal and state guidelines.

She has also held positions as director of student support services at Michigan State University’s (MSU) College of Nursing; interim director for student affairs at MSU; and surgical clinical nurse specialist and education specialist for Allegiance Health.  

GOL Board Chair Sandra Edwards said Traylor’s professional experiences and ability to connect with staff and clients made her a great choice for the interim role.

"The Gift of Life is entering into a phase of substantial program growth. Dr. Traylor is well-qualified and passionate about our work to reduce infant mortality. Her strong leadership ability and first-hand knowledge of the maternal child health field will keep Gift of Life moving forward,” Edwards said.

Traylor is originally from Montgomery, AL. She holds a bachelor’s in registered nursing from the University of Alabama Birmingham, master’s in nursing from Troy State University Montgomery and a doctorate in health science from Nova Southeastern University. She and her husband James Traylor are the proud parents of four children.

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ABOUT GIFT OF LIFE FOUNDATION: Since 1988, Gift of Life Foundation (GOL) has worked to decrease infant mortality through programs that empower women and their families to reduce the challenges they face that threaten their health and prevent a healthy birth outcome. Reducing those challenges helps children survive infancy, lower complications related to low birth weight and decrease child abuse and neglect. Our parent educators, mobile family coaches and registered nurses work with first-time and parenting moms and dads to develop effective parenting skills and connect them to community resources that help them increase self-sufficiency.

Gift of Life recently published its 2017-2018 Annual Report which outlines innovations in programming, agency accomplishments, target goals and recaps events for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

Special Thanks to Our 30th Anniversary Sponsors

Gift of Life would like to thank its 30th Anniversary Benefit Banquet Legacy Sponsors for their support toward making our celebration a success.

Allen Dupre & OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery, Assured Partners and Maureen and Dr. Arthur Britton

Special thanks to our Trailblazer Sponsors Gregg Everett and Gilpin Givhan and the William Chandler family. Thanks also go to our Advocate Sponsors Cedric Bradford, Cheryl and Robert Davis, A.Z. Holloway, MD, Ty Powell, Synovus Bank, Grace Thomas, MD, Diane and Allen Weil, Edward Welch, Jr. and Dr. James and Cathy Wright and other important donors. We appreciate you!

Visit our Events page for a recap of our banquet, complete with photos. You can also view our special 30th Anniversary video which honors our founders, past executive directors, partners and families on our Vimeo page.

The River Region Community Action Team, Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Gift of Life Foundation, and Family Sunshine Center are hosting the workshop "Cultural Awareness of the Dynamics of Domestic Violence" on October 18, 2018, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park.

You'll learn about the dynamics of domestic violence and how understanding cultural uniqueness is important to improving care and response to victims and providing effective prevention education. The workshop will also include a session on domestic violence and its affects on children’s brain development.

Morning Presenter: Retired Lt. Steve Searcy, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator, Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence will present the workshops “Dynamics of Domestic Violence” and “Cultural Awareness of DV”.

Afternoon Presenter: Gina Mullins, Children's Victim Services Counselor, Family Sunshine Center will present the workshop “Domestic Violence & Children’s Brain Development”.

Door prizes and CEUs for social work and nursing professionals will be available. The cost of the conference is free but YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE TO ATTEND. CLICK THE EVENTS TAB UNDER THE COMMUNITY PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE TO ACCESS THE REGISTRATION LINK. Seating is limited to the first 100 registered participants and is being offered on a first-come, first-served basis until all available seats are exhausted. No exceptions. The general admission ticket issued upon registration on Eventbrite will be required for entry to the event. Sign-in for the event will be from 7:45-8:20 a.m. The workshop will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.

For more information, call Mona Davis, Gift of Life Foundation at (334) 273-7800.

The Alabama Department of Public Health's Title V and Alabama Healthy Start Grantees will present the summit "The State of Infant Mortality in Alabama" on September 14, 2018, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Auburn University Montgomery's Taylor Center. The goal of the summit is to raise awareness of infant mortality and its impact on families, communities and the state. The event will include a panel discussion by families who have been affected by infant mortality, informative sessions on the leading causes of infant mortality in Alabama, and ways to reduce the risks. The summit is  free to members of the community and professionals. You must register to attend on Eventbrite. The deadline to register is September 5. CEUs will also be available for social work and nursing professionals for $25, which can be paid on-site by check on the day of the event. For more information, call (334) 272-1820.
SPONSORS: Alabama Department of Public Health, Gift of Life Foundation, Birmingham Healthy Start Plus, AUM Office of Diversity and Inclusion and March of Dimes.

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Khayla Chambers and Jermias

MONTGOMERY, AL- The Gift of Life Foundation (GOL) and Farmers Insurance presented the keys to a car to Montgomery mother Khayla Chambers as part of GOL’s 30th Anniversary Rides of Hope Car Giveaway. 

During a presentation held earlier today, Chambers, a participant in GOL’s Parents as Teachers home visitation program, received a 2013 dark gray Nissan Sentra, which was restored by Joe Hudson Collision of Tennessee at no cost.

“Back in February we were presented with an opportunity to partner with Farmers Insurance for its Rides for Hope Program to provide a vehicle for a deserving mom who needed a car not just for transportation, but to help her realize her dreams,” said GOL Executive Director Dr. Cheryl G. Davis.

“This year marks our 30th anniversary, and like Rides for Hope, Gift of Life is celebrating 30 years of offering hope to Montgomery families most at-risk for infant mortality through its programs, which empower women and their families to reduce the challenges they face, develop effective parenting skills, improve their family’s health and connect them to resources that help them increase self-sufficiency.” 

Farmers Insurance and Joe Hudson Collision implements the Rides for Hope program across the country. The program is a way to donate vehicles to military veterans and other deserving families for whom reliable transportation would help improve their lives.  Working in cooperation with auto repair shops, car dealerships and other companies involved in automotive repairs, Farmers provides vehicles that are repaired and eventually donated to families chosen by local social service organizations, like Gift of Life. 

“Farmers Insurance is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. We encourage our agents and employees to volunteer and engage in meaningful community service that makes a positive impact on local communities,” said Frank Lightsey, Farmers Insurance Guaranteed Repair Program Supervisor for the Southeast. “Our Rides for Hope Program falls directly into the strengthen communities and improving lives categories.”

Traweek Dickson, an owner of Joe Hudson Collision said for his company Rides for Hope was an important way to give back to the community. 

“We want to be good corporate citizens and it was an honor to help a deserving mom. It’s our hope that when you help someone in need, that it inspires others to do the same thing,” said Dickson. “We believe this donation will help Ms. Chambers achieve her dreams.” 

More than 15 GOL moms entered the contest by writing an essay explaining why they needed a car and how having reliable transportation would help them achieve their educational, employment or parenting goals. A panel made up of community partners determined the winner. No GOL staff or board members were involved in the selection process.

Chambers, who plans to return to school and study nursing, said winning the car is a tremendous blessing. She and her family have been without a car for almost a year and it has been difficult.

 “When the bus isn’t available, I have to walk two miles to work and another two miles to pick up my son from daycare,” Chambers said. “I’m currently expecting, so getting to work, managing daycare for my son, plus going to school in the evenings after work would be hard to do without a car,” she said. “Winning this car will help me make a better life for myself and my children. I’m thankful to Gift of Life, Farmers Insurance and Joe Hudson for making this possible.”