History of Pirate Power
On Christmas Day, 2O1O, my good friend and fellow teacher Leila Manning gave birth to twin boys - a joyful moment tempered by their premature arrival at only 24 weeks (16 weeks early). The two boys, Liam and Ewan, weighed under two pounds each, and had had a series of health problems related to their premature birth. Liam came home after 109 days in the NICU, 3 days before his due date. Ewan, however, struggled with a series of infections, surgeries and blood transfusions and passed away, living a very short life of only 75 days.
I knew there was nothing I could do to take away Scott and Leila’s pain of losing Ewan, but I wanted them to know that so many people loved and supported them. I asked our co-workers and Scott and Leila’s family if they wanted to do the March of Dimes walk in honor of Liam and in memory of Ewan. I received an overwhelming, “YES!” Before I knew it, we had 55 walkers and raised almost $15,000!! We were a national Top 3 Family Team for 2O11. Due to our success, we had the honor of being invited to be at the podium with the March of Dimes when they received a commendation from the City of San Jose.
The March of Dimes asked Leila and Scott to be an Ambassador Family and share their story at local fundraisers. In January 2012, Liam was named the 2012 Ambassador Baby for the March For Babies on April 28th, 2012. We are now serving on the local MOD Family Team Council and are actively recruiting new family teams, new members of Team Pirate Power, and donations to support this worthy cause.
My personal history with multiple miscarriages makes the heart break and fear of baby loss all too real. I am a member of several organizations that provide comfort and mentoring to parents who are grieving the loss of a baby. Working with this community fills me with ideas and inspiration about how to help other parents who have experienced a part of what Leila and I have as mothers.
Leila and I also collect, prepare, and deliver NICU Comfort Bags, Sibling Bags, and Baby Loss Memory Bags to local hospitals and organizations. We ship our Baby Loss Memory Bags all over the country. We host craft parties, fundraisers, and team events to generate the funds needed to continue our deliveries. We are two girls with a dream and mission! Friends and family, and people like you, help us make the dream a reality. Thank you so much for your support!
Many have asked how Pirate Power got its name. When Leila was pregnant, she called the twins, “Pirates,” because she had such awful morning sickness that she felt like her body had been hijacked by Pirates. I started posting “Pirate Power” on Leila’s Facebook page as soon as I heard about the twins fighting for their lives. Pirate Power was born!
-----Stephanie Brown
I knew there was nothing I could do to take away Scott and Leila’s pain of losing Ewan, but I wanted them to know that so many people loved and supported them. I asked our co-workers and Scott and Leila’s family if they wanted to do the March of Dimes walk in honor of Liam and in memory of Ewan. I received an overwhelming, “YES!” Before I knew it, we had 55 walkers and raised almost $15,000!! We were a national Top 3 Family Team for 2O11. Due to our success, we had the honor of being invited to be at the podium with the March of Dimes when they received a commendation from the City of San Jose.
The March of Dimes asked Leila and Scott to be an Ambassador Family and share their story at local fundraisers. In January 2012, Liam was named the 2012 Ambassador Baby for the March For Babies on April 28th, 2012. We are now serving on the local MOD Family Team Council and are actively recruiting new family teams, new members of Team Pirate Power, and donations to support this worthy cause.
My personal history with multiple miscarriages makes the heart break and fear of baby loss all too real. I am a member of several organizations that provide comfort and mentoring to parents who are grieving the loss of a baby. Working with this community fills me with ideas and inspiration about how to help other parents who have experienced a part of what Leila and I have as mothers.
Leila and I also collect, prepare, and deliver NICU Comfort Bags, Sibling Bags, and Baby Loss Memory Bags to local hospitals and organizations. We ship our Baby Loss Memory Bags all over the country. We host craft parties, fundraisers, and team events to generate the funds needed to continue our deliveries. We are two girls with a dream and mission! Friends and family, and people like you, help us make the dream a reality. Thank you so much for your support!
Many have asked how Pirate Power got its name. When Leila was pregnant, she called the twins, “Pirates,” because she had such awful morning sickness that she felt like her body had been hijacked by Pirates. I started posting “Pirate Power” on Leila’s Facebook page as soon as I heard about the twins fighting for their lives. Pirate Power was born!
-----Stephanie Brown
- 1/2014 - Pirate Power started fundraising for their 4th March For Babies.
- 2/26/14 - Pirate Power hosted a successful restaurant fundraiser. 75 people dined in, countless more took out, and we raised close to $500 for the March Of Dimes!
- March/April 2014- Pirate Power team members held crafting, pinball, and restaurant fundraisers all over the Bay Area. Our fundraising events raised over $3000.
- 4/26/14 Pirate power had over 50 walkers, many of them children, and raised $21,000 for the March For Babies. We were recognized at this year's event as the #1 Family Team in the Silicon Valley division, and the #5 team in California.
- Nov. 2014, Pirate power team members participated in March Of Dimes' Gratitude Visits to Kaiser Santa Clara and Good Samaritan Hospitals. We cherries the opportunity to thank these medical staffs for all they do for local babies.
- Nov/Dec 2014 - Pirate Power sponsored a Community Tree in San Jose's Christmas In The Park. Our tree celebrated all babies and the March of Dimes!
- 12/24/14- Pirate Power delivered 65 Christmas Stockings, and 30 NICU comfort kits to the NICUs at Kaiser Santa Clara and Good Samaritan Hospitals.
- 12/24/13 - Pirate Power delivered 25 NICU Comfort Bags, 25 Baby's First Christmas Stockings, and 5 NICU Sibling Fun & Games bags to the Santa Clara Kaiser NICU in honor of the Pirates' 3rd birthday.
- 11/28/13 - Pirate Power decorated a tree in San Jose's Christmas In The Park to raise prematurity awareness and to celebrate all babies!
- 10/17/13 - In recognition of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month, we donated 30 Baby Loss Memory Kits to HAND (Helping After Neonatal Death).
- 9/19/13 - In honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, Pirate Power delivered 25 NICU comfort bags and 5 NICU Sibling Fun Bags to the Santa Clara Kaiser NICU.
- 8/24/13 - The Pirate and his Parents shared their story and greeted shoppers at local Macy*s Shop For A Cause events.
- 7/1/13 - It's Official! Team Pirate Power raised over $23,000 for the March Of Dimes. We are the third highest fundraising Famiy Team in California!
- 4/28/13 - Team Pirate Power had over 50 walkers, many of them children, and raised over $20,000 for the 2013 March For Babies! Our Tee shirt design, with the slogan,"We March For All Babies" won #1st place.
- 2/14/13 - Pirate Power was recognized as the #1 2012 March For Babies Family Team in the South Bay Division (This division encompasses four California counties: Santa Cruz; Santa Clara; San Benito, and Monterey) at the March Of Dimes/March For Babies Kick Off Luncheon. 5 team members were recognized as "Top Walkers" for raising more than $1,000.
- 12/24/12 - In honor of our Pirates' 2nd birthday, we delivered 25 Christmas stockings, 25 NICU comfort bags, and 5 NICU sibling bags to Santa Clara Kaiser NICU.
- 11/8/12 - Pirate Power founders, Leila & Stephanie, have joined the March Of Dimes Family Team Council. We will be recruiting and supporting new March For Babies Family Teams.
- 10/26/12 - Pirate Power personally delivered 25 NICU comfort bags, 5 NICU sibling gift bags, and 10 Baby Loss memory bags at Santa Clara Kaiser NICU.
- 10/15/12 - Pirate Power honored over 100 babies by lighting candles and posting personalized photos on our Facebook page on October 15th, for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
- 8/12 - Leila & Liam shared their story at several local Macy*s to promote the March Of Dimes/Macy*s Shop For A Cause event.
- 7/1/12 - It's official, Team Pirate Power raised over $25,000 for the 2012 March For Babies!!! A huge Thank You to all our team members and supporters!
- 6/10/12 - Pirate Power co hosted our first Scrapping for the NICU event. Supporters created over 100 handmade name tags for local babies!
- 4/28/12 - Team Pirate Power had over 50 walkers and raised over $23,000 for Silicon Valley's March For Babies!
- 4/10/12 - Liam, Scott & Leila shared the Pirates' story at San Jose Kaiser Hospital on behalf of the March Of Dimes.
- 4/5/12 - Pirate Power delivered 25 comfort bags to the Santa Clara Kaiser NICU. Liam was recognized at the hospital as the local MOD Ambassador Baby at a March For Babies Rally. We also donated 25 Baby Loss Memory Kits to HAND (Helping After Neonatal Death).
- 4/1/12 - Team Pirate Power has raised $14,469 for the March For Babies!
- 3/1/12 - Team Pirate Power has 41 registered walkers, in 4 states, for the March For Babies!
- 2/14/12 - Pirate Power delivered 65 comfort bags to the Santa Clara Kaiser NICU. They also donated 112 children's books and a cart to establish the Read Aloud NICU Library.
- 2/14/12 - The Pirate and his Parents shared their story at the March For Babies Kickoff Luncheon.Team Pirate Power 2011 was recognized as the #2 Family Team in Santa Clara County.
- 1/12/12 - We donated 30 preemie sized clothing items to the Gemini Crickets Parents of Multiples Club to help establish a Preemie Pantry for local parents.
- 1/1/12 - Liam Rendleman, our Pirate and Inspiration, was named the 2012 Ambassador Baby for the March For Babies on April 28, 2012.
- 9/18/11 - The Pirate and his Parents were the March of Dimes Ambassador Family for the Celebrity Chefs & Master Vintners Gala. Their "Fund The Mission" presentation earned $75,6OO
- 8/1/11 - The Pirate and his Parents were the Ambassador Family for a March of Dimes Charity Golf Tournament. Their "Fund The Mission" presentation earned $35,OOO!
- 4/30/11 - Team Pirate Power participated in the March For Babies. We had over 55 walkers and raised nearly $15,000!
- 4/26/11 - Team Pirate Power was invited to share the podium as the San Jose City Council honored the South Bay division of the March Of Dimes.
