Celebrating Mothers 2006 Highlights

Philadelphia's Favorite Mother and Son Help Moms and Babies

The 2006 Honorary Chairs were MCC's first mother/son team! We're very excited to welcome Carolyn Smith and Will Smith to our MCC family. The Smith family helped raise funds and awareness – to support MCC’s mission to improve maternal and child health. 

“I believe it takes a village to raise a child. When we support parents and garner resources to improve their lives - children grow in a positive direction, and we strengthen families and our community. Today there are far too many families raising children without the support they need.  Too often, poverty and inadequate healthcare stand in the way of their hope for a healthy baby. These families need MCC in their village, more than ever.” - Carolan Smith

Flowers, Tea and MCC

In what has become a springtime tradition, MCC kicked off the 2006 campaign at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show on March 11th.  The event continued to blossom with sell-out crowds at two seatings. MCC supporters enjoyed a selection of teas, sandwiches and sweets – and were the first to see this year’s card design and a public service announcement, featuring Honorary Co-Chairs Carolyn and Will Smith.  They then enjoyed a floral demonstration, auction, and a ticket to the world-famous Flower Show. Like the fabulous flora of the Philadelphia Flower Show, the campaign is in full bloom!

Gathered for Flowers, Tea and MCC - Maternity Care Coalition’s (MCC) Celebrating Mothers 2006 kickoff at the Garden Tea Room of the Philadelphia Flower Show are (L to R) Mary Posner, President of MCC’s Board of Directors; Diane Croce, Chair of Celebrating Mothers Committee; Carolyn Smith, Honorary Chair of Celebrating Mothers 2006; JoAnne Fischer, MCC Executive Director; Carolyn’s daughter Ellen Downs with her daughter Skylar. Displayed on the table is the 2006 Mother’s Day card, designed by Alusiv.

Diane Croce was MC for the Flowers, Tea and MCC and has provided leadership for Celebrating Mothers Committee for the last five years.

Award winning flower designer Jane Godshalk, owner of Botanical Designs in Haverford and a faculty member at Longwood Gardens, delighted MCC supporters with a floral demonstration. Jane’s beautiful creations were auctioned off at the end of her presentation.

Carolyn Smith (center) is surrounded by her friend and family at Flowers, Tea and MCC. The event introduced the 2006 Celebrating Mothers campaign that Carolyn is Co-Chairing along with her son Will Smith. To Carolyn’s left (seated) is her daughter Ellen Downs holding her daughter Skylar.