On Tuesday, March 4, Babies”R”Us® and Operation Shower were joined by fashion designer, and mom of four, Heidi Klum to shower 125 expectant mothers with joy and much-needed gifts, making it the largest event held by this charity since its inception in 2007. During the grand-scale baby shower, Klum surprised moms representing Navy and Marine bases across California with dozens of sweet gifts from her Truly Scrumptious collection, available exclusively at Babies”R”Us stores nationwide and online at Babiesrus.com/HeidiKlum. In addition, attendees enjoyed traditional shower games and fun activities.
“What a wonderful experience it was to join Babies”R”Us and Operation Shower to help bring joy to America’s military families,” said Heidi Klum. “As I look back on my own journey through motherhood, I know how special the ritual of a baby shower is to a new mom. I so enjoyed indulging these deserving moms and showering them with Truly Scrumptious baby clothes and dozens of sweet surprises to take home for their newborns.”
Sweet Support
In the coming year, Babies”R”Us will continue its commitment to honor families of the United States armed forces by once again partnering with Operation Shower to host baby showers for military wives who are experiencing the journey of pregnancy while their husbands are deployed. To kick off the third year of partnership, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys”R”Us, Inc., will provide a $100,000 grant to Operation Shower.
An Unforgettable and #TrulyScrumptious Shower for Military Moms-To-Be During this special event, which was themed “Sweet Surprises,” nearly 125 military moms-to-be and their guests experienced all the joy associated with a traditional baby shower. From creative crafts and exciting presents, to sweet treats and more, the shower featured candy-themed decor and activities. Guests took home items from the Truly Scrumptious spring collection, including adorable bodysuits, trendy outfits, cozy socks, caps and bibs, now available at Babies”R”Us stores nationwide and online Babiesrus.com/HeidiKlum. Plus, throughout the shower, Heidi surprised attendees with other products – big and small – including a crib and stroller, as well as a diaper bag and fashion diapers. Each mom was also presented with a Shower-in-a-Box, an Operation Shower staple. From bottles and receiving blankets to tiny toys and teethers, the boxes were filled to the brim with much-needed gifts. In addition, the women received a Babies”R”Us gift card, allowing them to shop for the baby items they still need.
Sweet Designs
The moms also had the opportunity to play designer for the day with the help of Heidi’s fashion know-how, creating adorable – but tasty – candy jewelry, as well as crafting their own pair of Truly Scrumptious Color My Own Pajamas for their little ones. Heidi also led the moms in entertaining trivia games, highlighting fun facts about pregnancy and motherhood.
Raising Awareness & Donations Through Online Portal in the coming year, Babies”R”Us will again leverage its dedicated microsite at Babiesrus.com/OperationShower as an online information and donation portal, where visitors can learn how to support this program and help military moms-to-be, who are often far away from friends and family, receive basic essentials for their newborns. Since launching this digital destination in 2012, individuals, organizations and businesses have donated hundreds of items from the official Operation Shower Babies”R”Us Registry, which allows shoppers to purchase products for these expectant moms.
“Over the last two years, we’ve joined forces with Babies”R”Us to help expectant moms whose husbands are bravely serving our country both celebrate and prepare for the arrival of their newborns,” said LeAnn Morrissey, founder of Operation Shower. “Babies”R”Us is dedicated to ensuring each shower is a grand success, and through its collaboration with Heidi Klum, we have succeeded in throwing the biggest Operation Shower event yet! We’re so excited to partner with the baby products authority for a third year to help make a difference in the lives of even more deserving mothers.”
Sweet-ly Deserved
Commitment to America’s Military Families Since the partnership began in May 2012, Babies”R”Us and Operation Shower together have showered nearly 400 expectant military moms from all branches of the military, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines National Guard and Coast Guard, with baby essentials. In addition, Toys”R”Us, Inc. and the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund together have provided more than $400,000, through grants and in-kind donations, to the organization.
About the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund The Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund is a public charity affiliated with Toys”R”Us, Inc., a company that unabashedly declares “We love kids!” The core mission of the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. Since it was founded in 1992, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund has contributed millions of dollars to qualified organizations that support that mission, including those providing disaster relief to children and families who are victims of large-scale crises. The Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund also provides grants to leading organizations that support children with special needs.
Primary fundraising activities include the annual Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund Gala, a private, invitation-only event that showcases the work of the Fund and raises money to support its many beneficiaries. This annual benefit has raised $100 million since its inception in 1985 and is one of the largest single-night fundraising events held in New York City.
See more photos from Maria Healey Photography here and from Nicole Benitez Photography here.
