Help Mothers’ Milk Bank of New England Win $10,000 For Charity

I recently learned of a contest being put on by Advanta which gives entrepreneurs and small business owners the chance to win $10,000 towards helping them to grow. Advanta has developed a social networking site called IdeaBlob which allows great ideas that are generated every day by people all across the country a place to live and grow. Eligible individuals can submit their business idea and based on votes from the IdeaBlob online community, one idea will win $10,000 every month.

The Mothers’ Milk Bank of New England, a newly formed non-profit milk bank serving babies, hospitals, and families throughout New England, is currently in second place, competing against Collegeffect.com who is looking to help college students with hands-on entrepreneurship.

While both are noble causes, I am asking the readers of this blog to cast a vote for The Mothers’ Milk Bank of New England. The Milk Bank will provide screened and pasteurized breast milk to premature and critically ill babies, primarily in neonatal intensive care units. This milk will be donated by volunteer mothers in our region. For sick and premature babies, breast milk can mean the difference between life and death, and a short or long hospital stay. Studies have shown that premature babies who receive banked milk are far less likely to suffer life-threatening complications and have much faster recovery rates.

If the Mothers’ Milk Bank of New England wins the contest, they plan the do the following win their winnings:

1) Processing and storage equipment. $5,000 for the purchase of equipment; freezers, pasteurizers, refrigerator, etc.

2) Milk Money Fund. Insurance doesn’t always cover the cost of donor milk. $3,000 would be for our Milk Money Fund, to provide donor milk to families who cannot afford the processing and shipping fees.

3) Start-up marketing costs. $2,000 for publicizing the Milk Bank in our region, particularly to recruit potential milk donors i.e. radio public service announcements, web and print materials to educate the parents and medical providers about milk donation and use.

Sound like a great idea? I think so and have already voted for their cause myself. Won’t you join me? All you have to do is register at IdeaBlob and then navigate to the idea that starts with “Got Milk?” and select the green vote button. It’s that easy. You will be helping a very worthy and needed cause.