Project Cuddle

Project Cuddle
Non-Profit
Founded 1994 in Orange County, California
Founder Debbe Magnusen
Key people
 Debbe Magnusen (Founder & CEO)
John Stamos (National Spokesperson)
Ed Idell (Board President)
Slogan Providing safe and legal alternatives to baby abandonment.
Website ProjectCuddle.org

Project Cuddle is a nationwide California-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing baby abandonment.[1] It works with pregnant women in distress to provide shelter, to give guidance to find medical and prenatal care, and to help find adoptive families.[2] Its national spokesperson is actor John Stamos.[3] It operates a 24/7 toll-free hotline which treats all calls as confidential.[2] Project Cuddle and its founder, Debbe Magnusen, were featured in a People Magazine article in February 2007 in the popular column Heroes Among Us,[4] on Oprah in April 2000,[5] and again on a special "Cheers To You!" episode on May 9, 2007.[6] The organization has also been featured on ABC News,[7] CBS News,[8] and Dateline Houston.[9]

History

Project Cuddle was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity in 1994 by Debbe Magnusen after having the realization that every day babies were being abandoned around the world by mothers of all ages. She started Project Cuddle in her living room in Costa Mesa, California with the goal of ending baby abandonment as well as giving care and support to pregnant women. Within 12 hours of opening their 24-hour hotline to callers, they received their first call from a young mother.[10] The California State Auditor reported that 404 babies were abandoned in California alone between 2001 and 2007.[11] As of August 2013 the volunteers and employees of Project Cuddle have saved 735 babies from being abandoned and provided the mothers with alternatives.[10]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Flavin, Jeanne (2008). Our Bodies, Our Crimes: The Policing of Women's Reproduction in America. New York, London: New York University Press. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-8147-2754-6. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "About". Project Cuddle. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  3. ↑ Pace, Giacinta (October 15, 2009). "John Stamos: Saving babies from abandonment". MSNBC. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  4. ↑ "She Finds Homes for Abandoned Babies - 564 and Counting". People. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Should Women Be Allowed to Abandon Their Babies?". Oprah (in English). April 19th 2000. CBS. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ "Cheers to You!". Oprah (in English). May 9th 2007. CBS. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ ABC News (in English). May 4th, 2000. ABC. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ CBS News (in English). August 2nd, 1998. CBS. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ↑ Dateline Houston (in English). January 2000. NBC.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "History". Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  11. ↑ Howle, Elaine. "Safely Surrendered Baby Law" (PDF). Bureau of State Audits. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
  12. ↑ "Senator Mimi Walters and California Senate Resolution Baby Abandonment Prevention Awareness Day". PRLog. Retrieved 2013-08-08.

External links