MOMS work it for the kids

Suzie Harrison

Amy Kramer is a member of the MOMS Club of Laguna Beach South

Chapter. Listening to her talk about it, it’s easy to conjure the

image of a tree with its roots firmly planted in the community and

its members are the branches, though connected to the tree, they also

are heavily involved in other philanthropic needs.

MOMS volunteer for a variety of causes in town, including

affiliations with Laguna Beach Little League, Laguna Art Museum, the

renovation of Bluebird Park and the Rocket Ship Fund.

Many volunteer at Laguna’s schools and other charitable events.

The south club itself recently earned $12,000 for Project Cuddle at

its annual fundraiser.

“We raise money that is always child centered,” Kramer said.

The MOMS Club meets once a month at the park. There they discuss

and vote on important matters such as which charity to donate to.

“Women get an opportunity to network and kids get to know each

other. It creates bonds and friendship early on,” Kramer said. “It’s

one of the most important aspects, looking forward to [our children]

growing up together.”

She said that networking is huge, especially in a

community-centered place such as Laguna Beach.

Last year they had decided unanimously to raise funds for Project

Cuddle. The cause was started to help prevent infants from being

abandoned. More than 57 children are abandoned every day, and those

are only the children who are found, according to Kramer. Project

Cuddle has saved 100s of babies since its beginnings in 1996.

MOMS Club raised more than $10,000 for the Laguna Beach Community

Clinic last year and two years ago it raised $7,000 for the Smile

Train, an organization that helps children with cleft palates receive

surgery.

“Our main goal is to keep it as local as possible and get the

biggest impact for the money we raise,” Kramer said.

They were able to fund at least 10 palate procedures and save

about six babies, the cost per baby is $2,000 each.

“It turned out to save six children,” Kramer said. “It motivates

us to refocus our energies each year with the fundraiser.”

Member Lori Levine has been collecting for the Orange County

Interfaith Shelter on a monthly basis and helps with the annual

Adopt-A-Family program between the shelter and the south club.

The MOMS Club supports it at Christmas time and adopts about seven

to nine families a year.

“I collect household items and goods for the shelter and make my

house a drop off point, so I can make deliveries myself,” Levine

said. “I do it every month, I believe that we should support them

through the year because their needs are constant.”

Levine said that MOMS Club does so much and that it’s an

opportunity to support each other before their children are school

age.

“You meet a lot of women who are at the park alone and think

they’re the only one who is doing this at home,” Levine said. “We’re

all on the same page and that’s what is nice about the MOMS Club.”

“There are a lot of benefits,” she said. “It benefits me that’s

why it’s so easy to get involved and give back.”

There is a North Laguna MOMS Club as well. To find out more about

the South Laguna MOMS Club or to donate to one of their chartable

causes, call incoming President Kris Thornton at (949) 376-7671.