Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Awareness Project
Thank you for the support from our 2024 sponsors:
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EVENTS
2024
For our twelfth year we gatherered together at Phil Moore Park in Alvaton, KY. The event represented 18 babies by name and was held on October 15th, 2024. Our proclamation was read by Mr. Bryce Chandler with the Bowling Green Fire Department. Ashley Gorrell honored us by telling the story of her loss of Baby P. Harrison Townsend read our story aloud and Brie Simmons with Charlie Health educated us on their program they have for postpartum mothers who are sturggling with infant loss and infertility. Photos are courtesy of the Steps for Samuel board.
2022
Steps for Samuel celebrated ten years of honoring babies and raising awareness for Pregnancy and Infant Loss on October 13, 2022 at Lampkin Park in Bowling Green, KY. We were honored to have many community representatives on hand to read our Proclamation to include, Mayor Todd Alcott and City Commissioners Carlos Bailey, Melinda Hill, Sue Parrigan. We honored over 100 babies by name on this beautiful night and our story was read by Antwanica Duncan, in memory of her twin babies. Photographs courtesy of Charles McCoy.
2020
The Eighth Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Event was held on October 15, 2020 via a virtual platform. COVID 19 struck and we weren't sure what the year would hold. We were able to offer an online program along with a proclamation read by Tom Lawrence, Magistrate. We were also able to offer name reading for thirteen babies. We rededicated all the trees located in the parks by encouraging participation in a Scavenger Hunt for the trees in the community. Click the link above to view our virtual event. Thank you to all who participated.
2018
The Sixth Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Event was held on October 11, 2018 at G.H. Freeman Park. The annual proclamation of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss in Bowling Green was read by Ms. Andrea Strange. We named 23 babies this year at the event and had 35 attendees. This year we announced that we will be applying for 501C3 status this year to enable us to continue the event and even grow the event. Photography courtesy of Sarah Elyse Photography.
2016
The Fourth Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Event was held on October 13, 2016 at Covington Woods Park in Bowling Green, KY. The event had 42 participants with thirty two babies represented. The event had 35 preregistered participants with 7 walk up registrants the day of. The weather was cloudy but not rainy and a perfect day for this event. We began the evening with introduction, a proclamation by City Commissioner Melinda Hill, a tree dedication, a candlelight vigil, announcement of the participants of the virtual walk , presentation of awards for the walk, and a resource presentation. The winner of the virtual walk was Stacy Priest who received a $25 gift card. Photo album found in the above link, courtesy of Samantha Steen Photography.
2014
The Second Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Event occurred on October 15, 2014 at Kereiakes Park in Bowling Green, KY. This event was bigger than ever with 66 participants. 54 of the 78 pre-registrants were in attendance with 12 new registrants the day of the event. Despite the rain, the community showed up! To view photos in their entirety, click the photo above. Photos are courtesy of GlennCombs Photography.
2023
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For our eleventh year we gatherered to celebrate at the Bark Park at H. P. Thomas Park on Cave Mill Road. Our event was held on October 12th, 2023 to honor babies and raise awareness for Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Julia Ullrich was our master of ceremony, while Melissa Cansler, City Engineer and Sergeant Melissa Wartak with the Bowling Green Police Department read the proclomation. Amelia Townsend did an amazing job of reacing our story. Our guest speaker was Samantha Berry of Eli's Village Forever, a foundation she established to raise awareness for Congenital Heart concerns. Photos are courtesy of the Steps for Samuel board.
2021
The Ninth Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Event was held on October 14, 2021 at Michael Buchanon Park. Our proclamation was read by Representative Patti Minter and City Commissioner Carlos Bailey. Our guest speaker for the night was Julia Ullrich, Emma Ullrich's mother. She was able to share some tools that have helped her navigate her grief. There were participants from Mississippi and Atlanta there to remember the important babies represented at the event. Photographs courtesy of Sarah Elyse Photography.
2019
The Seventh Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Event was held on October 15, 2019 at Ephram White Park. The annual proclamation of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss in Warren County was read by Mr. Tom Lawrence. Representative Patti Minter presented a Citation by the House of Representatives to Julie McCoy for her hard work in the community on this project. We also added a rock garden at Ephram White this year. We named 26 babies this year at the event. This year we celebrated the fact that we became a non profit. We also introduced our new logo by Ms. Remy Smith of Atlanta, Georgia. We also began the comfort kit project this year. Photography courtesy of Sarah Elyse Photography.
2017
The Fifth Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Event was held on October 12, 2017 at Basil Griffin Park. This was the first year that we conducted an event in the County Park System. We are beyond grateful for Chris Kummer and all the staff at Warren County Parks and Recreation that made this event the success it's always proven to be! A proclamation of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss in Bowling Green was read by Magistrate Doug Gorman. This year we added a lullaby and a bedtime story to the event. For those of you who were there in person, you were probably as amazed as we were that the geese flew over our heads immediately following the bedtime story. Photography courtesy of Samantha Steen Photography.
2015
The Third Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Event occurred on October 13, 2015 at Preston Miller Park in Bowling Green, KY. This event had 50 participants. 26 of the 39 pre-registrations were in attendance with 22 new registrants the day of the event. The weather was beautiful, although windy. The event this year included a tree dedication, candlelight vigil and a mile walk around the park. An addition for this year was the Proclamation of October at PAIL Awareness in Bowling Green and Warren County by Mayor Bruce Wilkerson and City Commissioner, Melinda Hill. Photo album found in the photo link above, courtesy of Shaina Lea Photography.
2013
The First Annual Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Event occurred on October 17, 2013 at Kereiakes Park in Bowling Green, KY. To view photos in their entirety, click the photo above. Photos courtesy of Jessica Bertram.