Press

Healthy Start Celebrates Hollywood Glam and Healthy Babies

Posted on April 27, 2023

Stuart, Fla. - The glitter and glam of Old Hollywood took center stage in mid-April at the 2023 Hometown Hollywood Black-Tie Gala in support of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition and its Madison’s Miracles program.

Guests were treated to a dazzling setting of glimmering gold and true red carpet style at the Elliott Museum, where great food and spirited dance music made the event memorable.

Madison’s Miracles, the newest member of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition family of services, provides compassionate support to families who have been stricken with the unimaginable loss of a baby during pregnancy or during or after birth. “We were honored to welcome Madison’s Miracles into our family of services last year,” said Healthy Start CEO Samantha Suffich. “Healthy Start is dedicated to supporting families in the joys of childbearing, and now we are their resource in those heart-breaking moments of loss as well.”

The gala’s silent auction featured an electric guitar from Colorado Pawn & Jewelry, a custom hand-forged chef’s knife, and art by Omari Maynard. The live auction included a crawfish boil, and emerald and diamond necklace from Van’s Uniforms, and once in a lifetime trips. In addition to auction proceeds, sponsorships, and ticket sales, funds from a special call-out for support during the event will be used to sustain the Madison’s Miracles outreach efforts as well as the doula program, car seat program, and mental health services from Healthy Start.

Suffich gave the guests a quick summary of the past year’s achievements: “Between Healthy Start nurses and social workers visiting 178 families during the joys of pregnancy and issuing 145,000 diapers to growing babies, we have now filled the last gap in our continuum of care by serving over 70 families during the miracle of childbirth with our community doula program. We are revolutionizing maternity care by challenging healthcare providers to minimize maternal health disparities and support healthy, empowered births.”

Sponsors of the gala include: Remax of Stuart-Rosi Shepard, Spot On Strategies, John & Alex Carrigan, Paul J. Feinsinger CPA CFP, Loving Chiropractic of Stuart, Lucido & Associates, Marine Bank, PNC Bank, SJM Aerospace, SouthState Bank, Samantha & Knight Suffich, Van’s Uniforms, Vivify Solutions, Well Done Hospitality, White Glove Moving, Storage & Delivery, and Yates Funeral Home.

For more information, contact aaulisio@mchealthystart.org.


About Martin County Healthy Start

Martin County Healthy Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every baby is born healthy. It provides educational and health services to pregnant women, new mothers and their families at no cost, particularly expectant mothers who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.

Part of a statewide coalition, Healthy Start connects pregnant women and young mothers with essential services including prenatal care, home visitations by a nurse or social worker, breastfeeding support, parenting education, car seat and sleeping safety, a free diaper pantry, and access to other community partner agencies through the Betty Moore Prenatal Outreach Center. The David Cardno Father and Child Resource Center, also part of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, helps fathers to become more involved in parenting and offers legal assistance to fathers who are separated from their children.

The programs of Martin County Healthy Start Coalition are voluntary and available to all Florida residents at no cost.

For more information about Martin County Healthy Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.mchealthystart.org, call 772-463-2888 or follow the organization on Facebook.

comprehensive range of no-cost educational and health services to pregnant women and their families, particularly those who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.