“Extra” correspondent and first-time mom Hilaria Thomas Baldwin helped honor local military families when she hosted an Operation Shower/Birdies for the Brave group baby shower for 40 military moms-to-be whose spouses are deployed members of U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London. Sponsored by ConnectiCare, the “Welcome Aboard, Baby”-themed event took place on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The First Tee of Connecticut David & Geri Epstein Learning Center at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT, during the Travelers Championship. Supporting sponsors include “Extra,” Travelers, the Travelers Championship and baby bedding company Carousel Designs.
“I’m thrilled to host this event with Operation Shower, Birdies for the Brave and EXTRA,” said Baldwin. “As a first-time mom myself, I know how difficult pregnancy can be even with your spouse by your side. Many of these moms will be experiencing pregnancy alone, and I am so proud to be able to support and spend time with these amazing women while providing them with many of the necessities for welcoming their new bundles of joy into the world.”
In addition to her role as the lifestyle correspondent for the nationally-syndicated entertainment news magazine show, “Extra” – where she covers fitness, fashion, celebrities and news – Baldwin is a fitness and wellness expert and the co-founder of the Yoga Vida yoga studio. She has been featured as a fitness authority on E!, Good Afternoon America, and Plum TV’s “Yoga with a View.” Baldwin is a graduate of New York University, where she majored in art history and dance. She and her husband, actor Alec Baldwin, are the parents of a 10 month-old daughter named Carmen.
During the shower, the moms will enjoy lunch provided by Applebee’s, win prizes, and have an opportunity to share stories and gain comfort from other military moms-to-be in the same situation. The highlight of the event will be the presentation of Operation Shower’s signature “Shower in a Box.” Each mom will receive an array of unique, high-quality products and gift items for mothers and babies that have been donated by numerous companies, including Travelers and Carousel Designs. From onesies and baby bottles to clothing, crib bedding, diaper bags and toys, the gifts will go a long way toward raising the spirits of the moms-to-be, many of whom would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience a baby shower.
“For military wives who are expecting a baby and whose spouses are deployed or soon to be deployed, the impending arrival of a child can be both exciting and stressful,” said Operation Shower Founder and Chief Shower Officer LeAnn Morrissey. “Operation Shower was created specifically because typically military moms are the ones who hold it all together at home. Without their spouses by their side, deployed to another part of the world, these moms deserve our support, our thanks, our love and an opportunity to celebrate together.”
“We are thrilled to join with Operation Shower and Birdies for the Brave to show our appreciation to these courageous military moms-to-be, who make innumerable sacrifices that enable their loved ones to so selflessly serve our country and defend our freedom,” said ConnectiCare President & CEO Michael Wise. “Their service and sacrifice deserve to be recognized just as much as those on the front lines, and we are delighted to do that through this special shower.”
