Earlier this week, celebrities and mothers from all over the world gathered in New York and in front of computer screens around the world to share their stories and use their voices at Moms +SocialGood to help improve the health and wellbeing of women and children everywhere.
Among the stars were actress and philanthropist Olivia Wilde, author and activist Elizabeth Smart, actress and TV host Padma Lakshmi, Ambassador Samantha Power, ABC News anchor Amy Robach, Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan, Girls Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chávez and NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie.
The event covered issues from the importance of education, some of the challenges and solutions of childbirth, how to inspire and raise the next generation of global thinkers and leaders, and how simple acts can create lasting change for global good. The conversation on stage at the Paley Center for Media in New York reached more than 13 million people online with more than 7,000 tweets over the course of the event.
“A woman’s voice is powerful. A mom’s voice is the most powerful,” said Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media.
“Don’t give up! You have worth that can’t be taken away from you no matter what,” said Elizabeth Smart when asked by NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie what her message to Nigerian girls would be.
“Moms are the cavalry, the leaders. When moms take an issue on, the world listens,” said Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation. “We all have a role in supporting the United Nations.”
“I feel so connected to mothers around the world and I’m committed to helping them any way I can,” said Olivia Wilde on how giving birth (just 2 weeks earlier) affected her outlook on life.
“Women’s voices not being heard is the root of a lot of our problems of the world,” said Padma Lakshmi when talking about the importance of passing down the right information. She also told the audience “I have found a way to turn my pain into power” when discussing her condition of endometriosis.
“When moms come together, they have the power to make an impact and create change,” says Sarah Colamarino, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Johnson and Johnson. “That’s why Johnson & Johnson is committed to helping moms all over the world.”
“It’s not enough to survive, they have to thrive,” said Princess Sarah when talking about mothers and newborns.
When trying to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, Ambassador Samantha Power said, “It does require not turning away, not getting overwhelmed and I think making choices and not feeling like you have to fix every problem to make a small difference on one.”
“I said yes to the live mammogram to save a life. I never in a million years thought the life I’d save would be my own,” said Amy Robach when talking with Rene Syler about her battle with breast cancer.
Moms +SocialGood was hosted by the UN Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, BabyCenter, the Huffington Post, and the 92Yat the Paley Center for Media in New York City and was the culminating event of the Global Moms Relay, a 60-day online conversation connecting moms and experts around the world to share their personal experiences, stories about motherhood and global causes they care about. So far more than 275,000 social media actions have been taken. Each action has resulted in a $1 donation (up to $275,000) to one of three campaigns to boost health and happiness for moms and children around the world. The Global Moms Relay and Moms +SocialGood are in support of the United Nations’ Every Woman Every Child initiative.
For more information about the Global Moms Challenge, visit www.globalmomschallenge.org. To learn more about and to join the +SocialGood community, click here.
