At the end of April, our ICAN chapter (International Cesarean Awareness Network) hosted our first annual LABORfest: Learning About Birth Options in Rockford. I have a chapter co-leader and the two of us spent about two months planning. We got a free space at a local pub that provided all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta (at a fairly low cost to us), we pitched sponsors to donate items to our silent auction, we got local vendors and birth professionals to set up table space to meet and greet the attendees, and Joovy donated a $270 Room playard as a door prize. We charged $10 per person and they got to eat as much as they wanted, browse and bid on the silent auction, and meet with the local professionals. It was a great success and our ICAN chapter… just the two of us… raised nearly $1000 for ICAN.

LABORfest: Learning About Birth Options in Rockford

THANK YOU, local community! We not only raised money, we raised awareness… we had attendees fill out short surveys and many had never heard of ICAN before. Well, now they have! We’re spreading the news about birth options and maternal care in our area. We’re providing information and support. See what a difference just two people can make?! THANK YOU, Rockford.

Thank you to everyone that donated to the silent auction:

Rockford Park District
Imagine Baby Products
Baby Goodies
Pink Tree
Thirty-One
Karen’s Art Quilts
Lillian Emi Designs
Pregatory
Shaklee
Shabby Little Sparrow
rd Artistry
Drea’s Designs
Anna Dylan Kids
A Beautiful Touch

Thank you to all the vendors and birth professionals with table space:

 Karen’s Art Quilts: absolutely gorgeous!

A Beautiful Touch: the bio mats and massage tables were a big hit! And totally relaxing.

Thirty-One: I just hosted a party after seeing the products at LABORfest 🙂 I bought… a lot 😉

Imagine Baby Products, Rockford Health Physicians Midwives, & Green Lil’ Bums

And THANK YOU to one of my favorite baby product companies ever, Joovy. They’re family-owned and run and they’re a wonderful company. Joovy donated one of their $270 Room playards and we gave it away as a door prize… everyone wanted to win!

The Joovy Room is a playard I wish I had when my 2 were little–I mean, it’s everything you need in one place. It’s a playard, but it’s also a bassinet and a changing table. Plus, it has a fantastic parent organizer with 9 pockets for storage of all those diapers, wipes, and creams.

More great features: 2 wheels to easily move it, a zippered travel bag, stain resistant fabric, built-in nightlight (awesome!), and built-in mp3/ipod jack with speaker (seriously? even MORE awesome). It comes in colors blueberry, orangie, and black.

The winner was thrilled and after I called her to let her know, she immediately jumped in her car to drive the 45-minutes back to pick it up 🙂 All of our silent auction winners were also thrilled–I even scored some items! Rebecca got a new hair bow and Ryan got a new tie 🙂 I bid on more, but I was outbid on them! Everyone had a great time. Casey’s was a wonderful host and kept the food coming, the vendors were a hit, and I think everyone walked away with more information and knowledge on birth, health, and parenting options in the greater Rockford area.

If you’re in the area and want to be kept up to date on our events, you can “like” our ICAN of the Rock River Valley facebook page and the LABORfest page. Thanks again to everyone who made this a success! Can’t wait for next year 😉