Shot@Life Champions Summit

I’m just back from Washington DC where earlier this week I spent two days with 45 dynamic women and men who will be a part of the national launch for the Shot@Life campaign. Shot@Life is a national effort of the UN Foundation to provide life-saving vaccines to children around the world. As a mom and an advocate for children worldwide, I am thrilled to be a Shot@Life Champion and help spread the word about the importance ensuring that all children get a shot at having a healthy and productive life.

We had an action-filled agenda that included a briefing from Dr. Meg Fisher of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as several training workshops with the UN Foundation team on advocacy, working with the media and fundraising. We brainstormed ways to support the national campaign from meeting with our local congressional representatives, hosting house parties to sponsoring Shot@Life run/walk events.

One of the best parts of the two days though was networking with some of the most impressive women I’ve met in a long time. I was blown away by how smart, dynamic and dedicated these women are to their communities and to helping children around the world. We hailed from as far as Oregon and as local as DC/Maryland.  Some of us were SAHMs while others were working moms. Some of us were veteran champions of immigrants rights while others of us were seasoned PTA leaders. What we all had in common was a desire to advocate on behalf of the nearly 2 million children who needlessly die each year from preventable diseases.

The official campaign launch is in April and I can’t wait to share with you all of the exciting ways you can support Shot@Life in your community. In the meantime, check out the Shot@Life website to learn more about this important effort.

Disclosures:  The Shot@Life campaign covered my travel to Washington and accommodations but otherwise I am working on a volunteer basis and receive no monetary compensation.