May 12, 2015

Do Good, Parenting Inspiration

11 Inspiring Moms Making the World a Better Place

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Back in 1865, William Ross Wallace wrote a poem that included the line, “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world” – a nod to motherhood as the most important force for change in the world. From raising the babies that become change-makers to being change-makers themselves, moms play a pretty pivotal role in shaping our communities. Today, we’re featuring 11 inspiring moms making the world a better place – “everyday moms” doing awesome things that show how each one of us has the power to make change. We bet you know some amazing moms, too, so share your stories for a chance to win our giveaway!

Leah Hostalet

Leah used Facebook to help a friend find a kidney donor. When it worked, she decided she wanted to do it for other people, too so she set up Find a Kidney Central, “a hub for kidney donation pages that now is home to 161 people who are in need of a new kidney. In the year the page has been up and running it has linked donors for 38 transplants, and has grown from a bulletin board of information into a vibrant support community for those waiting for transplants.”

Katie Driscoll

Katie is a mom of 6 kids and a photographer (5 boys + 1 girl = 6 Photography) whose daughter was born with Down Syndrome. She and a friend launched “Changing the Face of Beauty” and she organizes, casts and promotes photography as well as online campaigns encouraging companies to consider people of all abilities when they cast for their ads.

Rebecca Melskey & Eva St. Clair

Two years ago, Rebecca and Eva looked at children’s clothing and asked why. Why does no one make little girls clothes in pink with dinosaurs? Or sparkly with pirates? Or anything with ninjas, robots and monsters? In April of 2013, they set out to change that. From their vision came Princess Awesome: a clothing line that gives little girls stylish outfits to match all the cool things they love. “We want little girls to internalize that dinosaurs, pirates, ninjas, math, science and all the other themes on our dresses are just as much “for girls” as they are “for boys,” said Rebecca. (Story found on Moms1st – a community built to inspire women in all stages of motherhood. Such a cool resource for moms!)

Karen Walrond

Karen is the blogger and photographer behind Chookooloonks. According to SheKnows, “her book The Beauty of Different: Observations of a Confident Misfit is a best seller and stimulating manual honoring each individual’s differences and how that makes us unique, special and absolutely beautiful. Karen’s blog is eye candy for aspiring photographers and soul candy for anyone willing and ready to be inspired.”

Renee Bergeron

Renee, mother to 14 (for real!!) has a 4-year-old son Apollo who was diagnosed with a double aortic arch, a heart defect. After two surgeries, Renee  began taking pictures of him in superhero costumes to make him feel “strong and powerful,” which inspired her to offer her services to other special-needs kids. The result is an inspiring series called “The Superhero Project.”

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

Kristin is an author, speaker, radio host, and co-founder and Executive Director/CEO of MomsRising.org – a national grassroots organization that supports and promotes policies aimed at improving family economic security; helping families, children, and businesses thrive; and to ending discrimination against women and mothers.

Gwen Samuel

Gwen, a single mother of four, realized the kids who walked to school in her Connecticut neighborhood didn’t have a safe route that was free of traffic, snow and ice, so she created the Meriden Kids Walk Safe Coalition. Her Walk Safe initiative has created walkability checklists and safe route listings as well as lobbied against budget cuts that threatened crossing guards’ jobs.

Audra Wilford

Inspired by her son Max’s battle against brain cancer and the resilience that children teach us in the toughest of situations, Audra founded MaxLove Project to support SuperKids with the same therapeutic resources that helped SuperMax thrive against the odds while battling brain cancer. (SuperMax is also the inspiration behind Cloud b’s SuperMax the Turtle, created to help children feel calm and strong wherever they are and whenever they need it.)

Amy Dunnigan

Amy has made it her mission to help Loved Twice, a nonprofit dedicated to collecting and distributing gently used clothes to underprivileged babies in the San Francisco area. As told on CNN, “Since 2005, Loved Twice has collected 25,000 pounds of items — 5,000 pounds of which Amy contributed. She gathers, washes, sorts, repackages and delivers goods to the organization each week. She even scours sites like Craigslist and tries to convince sellers to donate items instead. Amy also uses this as a learning tool for her kids. ‘My son is in the car when I make my pickups,’ she says. ‘And my daughter enjoys snapping all the one-piece bodysuits. She knows she’s helping babies. I think it’s so important to teach kids how easy it is to donate and how fulfilling it is.’”

Tishara Osbey

Tishara is a young, single mom who works, goes to school, cares for her baby and helps the homeless. She uses her own money to bag lunches and drives 50 miles round trip to downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, to give food to the homeless every week.

Vanessa Howard

As told by Cosmopolitan, “Once-homeless mother Vanessa Howard pays it forward by treating other homeless women to spa treatments. Howard opened Giving Hands Beauty Salon after being homeless with three daughters. Now she hosts spiritual spa days for homeless women and princess spa days for girls in shelters. Howard says many of the women who have had free makeovers at her salon have gone on to get jobs. ‘I was once not having a place to stay with children and having no hope and having no dignity and so that’s what’s inspired me,’ she says.”

Now, it’s your turn! In the comments below, share the name of an inspiring mom you know and a little about why she’s inspiring to you. You could both win a super prize pack for pampering yourselves including Mommy’s Dream Time Gift Set, an Adult Snuzzle, our super plush Blanket & a Tranquil Starfish! (Retail Value: $216)

UPDATE: Congratulations to Lauren and Stephanie who were randomly selected as our big winners! Thanks to everyone who participated; we loved reading about the moms that inspire you. You are ALL amazing!

Cloudb_May_Giveaway_2015Apr28

ENTER TO WIN!

Here’s how…

REQUIRED:

In the comments below, share the name of an inspiring mom you know and a little about why she’s inspiring to you. (It should be someone you know personally, so we’re able to get the person’s shipping address should you both win.)

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

  • Sign-up for the Cloud b Club newsletter
  • Like Cloud b on Facebook
  • SHARE the giveaway on Facebook and use the hashtag #CloudbGiveaway
  • Follow Cloud b on Pinterest
  • Follow Cloud b on Twitter
  • Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter and use the hashtag #CloudbGiveaway
  • Follow Cloud b on Google+
  • Follow Cloud b on Instagram (@Cloud_b)

For each additional entry, leave a separate comment letting us know what you’ve done (and what your profile name is where relevant). You can enter up to 9 times by taking all of the actions listed above and the more entries you make, the more chances you have at winning!

One random winner will be selected on June 1st, 2015!

Good luck!!!

No purchase necessary. Must be US resident, 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Click-through for full sweepstakes rules.

 

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149 thoughts on “11 Inspiring Moms Making the World a Better Place”

  1. Joy Person

    Amelia Bonilla is an inspiring mom because she is not only a mother of 2 beautiful children but she is a wife of a Marine. She moved away from all that she knows in California to North Carolina when her husband got new orders and she did it without complaint. She has managed to make the transition look effortless the way she made her 2nd pregnancy with her little girl look as well. She is kind, loving, smart and a strong woman who could use some pampering.

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  10. Laura

    I have two mom friends who have lost children and babies. They started a support group for parents who are grieving miscarriage, stillborn, infant loss, child loss. They are amazing compassionate women.

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  18. Rochel S

    My sister Malki is an awesome Mom! She is so hands on with her baby and would do anything for him. She is also always willing to lend a hand and help me out with my own kids and is always there for me!

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  24. Veronica Bohan

    Chandra Luttrell is amazing because she has three children and still funds time to clean house and make time for herself.

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  33. Lyka Boss

    My friend Lisa, we go way back and she became a mom first so she’s my go to with mom questions and with whom I can be candid about with questions I feel ridiculous asking lol.

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  44. Brandy Y.

    My friend Alisa is an inspiring mom. She helps be an example for me of a great stay at home mom. I became one after her. She is super busy with a 9 month old, 2 yr. old and 15 yr. old. She balances it all well and I hope to be so good at juggling things as she is when I have more kids.

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  52. Tina Peisel

    Stephanie Murphy-you inspire me to be a crafty mom. You are so hands on and my little guy loves when he gets to play at your house because he always has a blast fingers painting, using sensory toys, or making homemade bird feeders! You are amazing, patient, and very talented 🙂

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  58. Belle Windham

    I am inspired by my friend Heather. She has 6 children, 2 with special needs and she homeschools. She still manages to get out and about with her children and do all kinds of fun stuff with them. She is very generous and tries to help her friends out even though she has her own plate full.

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  59. Andrea Merrill

    I am inspired by my husbands sister by another mother, also my daughters fairy Godmother, Aimee. Not only does she manage to be an amazing mom and school teacher, but she also managed to further her education while doing it all, buy a house, keep her house beautiful, deal with some crises’ and she is always put together, and her kids are, like, super happy, great kids.. (I think she secretly has a cape under her mom/teacher clothes because she is pretty amazing.

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  68. Jenn McClearn

    My friend Laura inspires me. She has 4 young children and is married to a Coast Guard pilot so is often doing everything alone. Her children are always happen and very involved in activities. I have 3 children and my husband is also in the Coast Guard I don’t know how she does it ! 🙂

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  71. Liz Ticona

    My mom Ana is who inspires me everyday to be a better mom myself. She had my sister at 18 years old & me just 3 years after & she’s always been a great example for us. She’s a strong woman who left everything behind to come to the USA so that we could have a better education and future. It was really hard for her but she learned a new language & even graduated college at 40 years old. Shes a great example of strength, perseverance & pure love 🙂

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  80. Stacy L B H

    I’d nominate my neighbor, Melissa B. It’s just a little over a year since they lost their son as a 26wk+ preemie. It’s been a hard year for them. I’m sure she hasn’t always felt it, but to me she has been so strong, centered. I’m doing a terrible job explaining it, but she is inspiring to me.

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  84. Jessica Parent

    My sister Danielle Garcia is an inspires me as a mom. She homeschools her 6 kids 1-14 yrs old and does it with a patience I didn’t think any of my moms kids possessed. She also bakes from scratch, finds time to blog, mystery shop and sell products.I don’t know how she does it all

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  93. lauracarter

    I’d nominate my friend Amanda. She’s a mom of 4 and soon to be 5. She grew up with a lot of adversity and despite not having a mom growing up, she is an amazing mom. I admire her and think she deserves this prize.

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  102. Angela Hendricks

    I nominate my friend Brooke Boyd. She is a fantastic mom who always puts her son first. She teaches him to read, plays with him, and is such a great mom. She deserves to win something nice for her boy.

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  112. Jen St. Pierre

    @regina wright she’s such a hard working mom of 2 kids and trying for #3. She’s so patient and always listens.
    I like and shared on Facebook (user name Jen St Pierre), follow on pinterest, follow on twitter & on IG with user name @jennygirlphoto

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  113. Alexis Nikia Cuffy

    My friend Tiffany Williams is one of the most inspiring mothers I know. I’m happy to call her my friend. She shared her struggles with fertility with others which for many people is difficult to do. As a mama, who has dealt with a miscarriage myself, seeing her strength and resiliency was inspiring. She was blessed with a beautiful little girl and has another little one on the way. She is so deserving and I would love to see her win 🙂

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  116. Becky Kennon

    I would love to nominate my mother Malicia F. Because even though all four of her children are grown up she still helps us in so many ways and is the best grandma to my son and two nephews 🙂 I would also nominate my sister Hilary because she has over come so much in life and is the most creative and amazing mother to my nephew …so if I won I would give my prize to my mother and sister <3

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  126. Matthew N Alma Anderson

    I would like to nominate a dear friend of mine named Norma Viridiana. She is a mother of one amazing autisc son. His father wants nothing to do with him because of his special needs. =( she has struggled through so much, her son, her health (which has been a problem and can not work) and to top it off, she’s about to finish her education. I don’t know how she does it but she has a strong heart and helps everyone!!

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  128. Lauren Harmison

    I would like to nominate a good friend of mine, Stephanie Knueve. She tragically lost her mom last year and has since been blessed with a beautiful baby boy, child #2 for her. She is wife to a busy farmer, mommy of 2 sons, a radiographer who loves her job, and an amazing support. Since her mom’s death last year, she has worked hard to promote awareness about mental illness and depression. Steph has helped me greatly in my endeavor of starting a non profit for young adults with physical disabilities (www.camppossability.org) and is like a 2nd mom to my 19 month old daughter who loves her Stephie! I am forever grateful for her and her friendship!!

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  129. Lauren Harmison

    I have done all the “Extras” except Google+ and Instagram because I don’t have those 2

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  130. Julian Reyes

    My wife Ratana Reyes. We just had triplets born at 28 weeks on April 8, and they are currently in the NICU. My wife, already very tired an drained, finds the energy to spend the whole day with them every day. A couple of the triplets have been through surgeries (one of them already had 4), and my wife’s strength has carried us through these hard times. She always keeps a positive outlook and hopes for the best. She always talks to the doctors, does research, and makes the time to pump for our little ones (every 3 hours she pumps!)

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  137. Rylie Origon

    My best friends mom is a mom that inspires me. Kelly and I have been best friends for 25 years now, since we were 8 years old. Her mom has always made me a part of their family and has done so many generous things for me throughout the years that I have lost track. I hope to have a relationship with my kids as they continue to grow as she has with hers.m

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  146. Jen Lemoine

    Signed up for newsletter, like cloud b on FB, shared on FB with the #CloudbGiveaway, follow on pinterest, twitter, tweeted & follow on IG

    Reply ↓

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