Announcing the “Knit One, Save One” Campaign
September 30th, 2008 at 1:40 pm | posted by Sen.Bill.Frist.M.D
In 2006, Save the Children, in partnership with Warm Up America Foundation launched a campaign called Caps to the Capital where almost 25,000 knitters and crocheters made caps for newborns in developing countries and wrote letters to the President to call for greater leadership and funding for newborn and child health.
Due to the overwhelming success of this campaign, Save the Children and Warm Up America are re-launching this effort in a campaign called Knit One, Save One. This campaign is a grassroots initiative asking knitters and crocheters to make a cap to help warm newborn babies around the world. In 2008, we are hoping to double our previous impact by engaging 50,000 knitters and crocheters to make 500,000 caps!
As part of the previous campaign, I traveled to Bangladesh with Save the Children to provide babies with knit caps and simple basic care such as vitamin A drops. From this experience, I was reminded that despite the technological advances of modern medicine, simple interventions can often save a young life.
Those babies that we assisted were fortunate. They escaped the unthinkable fate of the 2 million children each year who die the day they are born. In total, over 9 million children — one every three seconds — die annually from preventable causes. Ninety-nine percent of these deaths take place in the developing world. One in every six children in sub-Saharan Africa still fails to reach his or her fifth birthday. Many parents even resist naming a baby during the first six weeks of life because they fear the child will not survive a reality utterly unthinkable in the United States.
Knit One, Save One offers an opportunity for citizens to use their time and creativity to make a difference in the lives of a newborn and family. In addition, citizens can take actions beyond making a cap to take part in the larger effort to reduce newborn and child mortality. You can write a letter to the President-elect calling for increased support and resources for child health initiatives. You can host an event to raise awareness of the challenges that babies face and to make caps with friends, family and community members. You can also donate to the Better Beginnings for Babies Kit which contains items to improve hygiene at delivery and promote proper care of newborns. This kit will be paired with a hand-made cap, knitted or crocheted by one of our caring participants in the Knit One, Save One campaign.
I believe that mothers shouldn’t face the uncertainty of a baby’s survival when known, readily available, cost efficient solutions exist. I can think of no better gift to the world’s mothers — and their children —than addressing this challenge now.
Please join me, Save the Children, Warm Up America and the ONE Campaign in this exciting campaign. Your cap can save a life, your voice can help us save millions more!
-Senator Bill Frist, M.D.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
In 2008, isn’t the time right for the United States of America to re-focus attentions and resources to aid and assist the needs of our Domestic poor, and finally begin to give less to those in foreign lands?
October 7th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I found this website ,hoping it would help me support my AIDS Activism in my own city, county, state in the USA. There is no advocacy,nor funds provided for people that are infected/affectedwith HIV/AIDSin the county where I live.I am one person trying to make a difference in Lancaster,OH.,Fairfield County,USA. Is there anyone in this grand country that is going through the the same isolation and lack of help? World AIDS Day is in the future. I am working feverishly, trying to find a key-note speaker,etc. This will take place in our Capital city,Columbus. I pray there are other people that are isolated and need help,like myself.Positively, Denise Cook Probasco
October 19th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Even though the world economy is unstable, America should still give resources and assistance to people in foreign countries, and give as much as possible because we have enough resources and time to aid both our own people and our neighbors as well. Without our help, other nations would struggle to survive and grow more than they do now. We have enough money to assist poor Americans and poor people around the world but we need to improve how the money and time are distributed and managed by our leaders, by organizations and us. We cannot ignore the needs of foreign nations when we are worried about our financial problems because doing that will cause those nations to suffer economic, social and political instability until we decide we are able to help them. It is not a matter of being able to help our own people versus those of other countries, but it’s a matter of knowing how and where to provide assistance to everyone in need.
In response to the last post, my heart goes out to you and the people like you who are isolated and need help. I pray you will find a key-note speaker and other resources for your community. You are making a difference by reaching out and looking for ways to change the lack of resources. The website for AIDS Foundation of Chicago, www.aidschicago.org, has quite a bit of info about AIDS advocacy and could help you find ways to advocate in your city, county and state. You are not going through this alone, there are many people affected by AIDS in need of assistance and support. I would be glad to help you look for more info about advocacy. I encourage you to keep working and tell people you know about what you’re doing so they can help you. I’ll be praying for the spread of awareness in your communities and for you to find support to replace isolation. Keep thinking and acting positive! Peace be with you.
Rachel