With your help, we can give the 3,000 babies born at Temple University Hospital this year a jump start to a safe and healthy life through the Baby Box Campaign.

This message is sent on behalf of Angel Owens. The Baby Box Campaign is a part of OwlCrowd, Temple University’s crowdfunding community where select Temple opportunities are featured during 45-day cycles to fuel private fundraising revenue and benefit the university and its community. OwlCrowd VII runs until May 16.

I was born at Temple University Hospital (TUH) on September 1, 1997, severely premature at just 25 weeks old. My mother was distraught as I was taken to the Infant Intensive Care Nursery (IICN). I only weighed 1 pound, 1 ounce; many didn’t think I would make it. I was lucky to have a mother that prayed for me every day and one of the most competent, well-trained and dedicated medical and nursing teams in the region. They fought hard for me and worked with my mother to make sure she would have everything she needed when she might finally be able to take me home.

Nearly four months later, I finally did go home, a day before Christmas Eve, my life saved by TUH. Today, I am 18 years old and graduating high school. I often think about TUH and a few months ago I paid a visit to the IICN with my mother and even met with two of the nurses who helped save my life who are still there. It was an emotional reunion. I know how lucky I am. I also know how many of the newborns at TUH come into the world in less than ideal conditions. As the largest safety-net provider in Pennsylvania, TUH treats many new mothers who lack basic baby supplies, including cribs for their newborns. So when I heard about the Baby Box Campaign, which seeks to provide every new mother at TUH with a care package of essential supplies that also can serve as a safe sleeping crib, I was excited to get involved.

I am writing to you today representing the thousands upon thousands of children that TUH brings into the world, urging you to join me in supporting the Baby Box Campaign. My family can tell you firsthand how vital a helping hand can be, what a difference an extra bit of support can make in a young life. For just $150, a mother and her newborn baby can go home with everything they need to make sure that child has the best start possible in life. Gifts of any size will help fund this program, which I fully believe will save lives.

There is a sign in the IICN that reads “Every child is a story yet to be told.” This is just mine, but every year, there are 3,000 more. With your help, we can make sure they all have happy endings. Learn more about the Baby Box Campaign and make your gift today. Sincerely, Angel Owens This story was recently featured by the The Philadelphia Daily News. Check out the article here!

Questions? Contact Victoria Vicente at victoria@temple.edu or (215) 707-2774.