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Jenna Elfman, Kelly Preston & Laila Ali Host Event to Celebrate Breastfeeding & Toxin-Free Living in Raising Healthy Children

On April 14, 2012, actresses Jenna Elfman, Kelly Preston & former boxer Laila Ali, in partnership with non-profits Best for Babes and Healthy Child Healthy World, will host the first celebrity-driven event to raise awareness of the pivotal role that both breastfeeding and toxin-free living play in raising healthy children.  “Education and awareness are the first steps.  No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, and every action counts,” said hostess Jenna Elfman.

Presented by Leading Lady & Ameda, two companies that have supported breastfeeding moms for 70 years, the event is the first to introduce the breastfeeding cause and Best for Babes to expecting and new celebrity moms and Hollywood influencers.  Best for Babes is the only mainstream nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of and removing the barriers (The Breastfeeding Booby Traps™) that keep millions of mothers in the U.S. from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals.  Together with Healthy Child Healthy World, which has successfully partnered with high profile stars to teach parents around the globe how to protect children from environmental toxins, Best for Babes, Jenna, Kelly and Laila hope that this event will encourage Hollywood to lend its reach and influence to the breastfeeding and toxin-free causes.  Hollywood has been instrumental in raising awareness and bringing about change for many pressing health issues, from AIDS to Parkinson’s to breast cancer.

“Best for Babes is exceptionally grateful to Jenna, Kelly and Laila, and their outstanding event planning team for this opportunity to inspire and educate the influential Hollywood community,” said Bettina Forbes and Danielle Rigg of Best for Babes. “We thankfully acknowledge the leadership and support provided by Healthy Child Healthy World in mentoring Best for Babes, and we applaud them for their mission of empowering parents to protect children from harmful chemicals.  Special thanks to Presenting Sponsors Leading Lady & Ameda, as well as our Leading and Contributing Sponsors, for making this event possible and for funding a new Best for Babes initiative to help moms and babies. Three cheers to top party planner The Party Goddess! for bestowing her magic upon the event, and to all those who contributed to making it possible!”

The event, an afternoon tea, will be held on April 14th at the beautiful Hollywood home of actress and gracious hostess Jenna Elfman who is known for her impeccable style.  Hostesses Jenna, Kelly and Laila and the event team have attended to every detail to deliver an experience that is as elegant as it is intimate, and as informative as it is inspiring.   French Chef Ludo Lefebvre (Awarded Mobil 5-star, star of Top Chef Masters and Ludo Bites America) will demonstrate healthy snacks for moms and babies. Guests will have the opportunity to explore and learn about the best breastfeeding and non-toxic living practices, information and products through display stations located throughout the home.  Topics include getting a good breastfeeding start, sustainable and toxin-free nursery furniture, managing milk supply, baby-wearing and gear for on-the-go, using natural cleaning products, natural and organic body care for babies and moms, natural diapering, and organic and healthy nutrition.  Some of the host’s favorite breastfeeding & non-toxic products will be displayed.

Sponsors:  All of the sponsors and additional products displayed at the event were personally selected by the hostesses and their event teams, Best for Babes, and Healthy Child Healthy World, who thank them for making this event possible!

Presenting Sponsors:

LeadingLady. Leading Lady is a premiere nursing intimate apparel company dedicated to creating comfortably functional, remarkably affordable, stylish and easy-to-wear bras, camis and sleepwear for new and expectant moms. Leading Lady is dedicated to outfitting new moms with quality lingerie and the support they need to nurture their babies through breastfeeding. Family owned and operated since 1939, Leading Lady is proud to celebrate “Leading Ladies” everywhere through its products, programs and philanthropic activities.

Ameda provides the highest quality breastfeeding products and education.  Ameda introduced the first modern, electric breast pump in Sweden in 1942, and has been trusted by moms and lactation consultants ever since. Ameda’s mission is to help empower mothers to meet their breastfeeding goals by providing products that make breastfeeding more comfortable and breast pumping easier. Ameda has a passion for breastfeeding and helping moms and babies.  Ameda knows how much breastfeeding matters.

Leading Sponsors:  Moby Wrap, the comfortable, ultra-soft award-winning wrap-style baby carrier that promotes bonding. Motherlove, a trusted leader in herbal pregnancy, breastfeeding and baby products for 20 years. HappyFamily, committed to making convenient baby and toddler food as healthy and delicious as homemade with the essential nutrients needed for optimal growth and development. CaribooofNewZealand, manufacturers of quality, sustainable, eco-friendly and stylish nursery furniture and other baby essentials. FairhavenHealth, clinically-proven products designed to safely and naturally promote pregnancy and breastfeeding wellness.   PumpEase, maker of stylish and comfortable hands-free pumping bras, Mamas & Papas, Great Britain’s number one baby brand including strollers, baby carriers, bouncers, high-chairs, toys, infant positioners and interiors, SeventhGeneration, the nation’s leading brand of household, personal and baby care products that help protect human health and the environment.

 Contributors:  EarthMamaAngelBaby (organic & toxin free herbal products for mom & baby), BebeAuLait (originator of “Hooter Hider” nursing covers, plus burp cloths, blankets and sheets), Stokke (highchairs that grow with your child, carriers, strollers and nursery furniture). Humanity Organics (the original, organic, bed-top family sleeper), Quick Brown Fox (handmade, sustainable and toxin-free wood nursing stools, step-stools, teethers, bowls & spoons), Wean Green (colorful tempered glass food containers) and Milkies Milksavers (collects breastmilk while nursing).

Swag Bag:  Fit Pregnancy will host a celebrity Swag Bag Giveaway following the event.

Food & Decor:  A huge thank you to The Party Goddess, for making the event sizzle and pop, and for bringing everything together!  Special thanks to Huntington Catering, Wildflower Linen, A Bed of Roses, The Party Goddess!, Lemonade, Polkatots Cupcakes, Simple Things, Mike’s Ice, Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, Dolphin Rentals, and Premiere Valet for generously donating goods and services to the event.

Use of Funds Raised:   Sponsorships of the event will be used to help develop and launch a new Best for Babes initiative, the Physician Education, Empowerment and Recognition program (MD PEER program).  Modeled in part after Baby-Friendly USA, this program is being designed under the guidance of leading physicians who are members of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association.   The MD PEER program is designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to breastfeeding:  the fact that most physicians learn very little if anything about breastfeeding management in medical school, and while well-meaning, are often  misinformed and not educated on the basics of lactation management, referral, and support. The pilot program will start with OBs and Pediatricians and expand to include a broader range of physicians, i.e., allergists, cardiologists, general practitioners, and family physicians. Physicians are regarded as authorities and play a hugely significant role in whether a mother starts and continues to breastfeed, and whether or not she has a positive or successful experience. This program is inspired by the millions of moms who wanted to breastfeed and unnecessarily struggled, suffered or gave up before they intended too, full of guilt and self-blame and regret, and it was not their fault.  It is inspired by women who were robbed of a unique experience and prevented from reaping the incomparably enriching, physical, emotional and life-long health benefits of breastfeeding by a medical establishment that is still under-educated about breastfeeding.  We shared hundreds of these stories of suffering with the U.S. Surgeon General in January 2011.