Thousands of families across the U.S. experience the trauma of a NICU stay, and approximately one in ten infants born in the U.S. is admitted to a NICU. While the duration of these stays varies from a few days to many months, every NICU experience is life changing.
"When a baby is born early or with special healthcare needs, milestones have a very different meaning," said Katrina Moline, Executive Director of Hand to Hold. "This contest celebrates hope, resilience and the deep emotions around NICU graduation. The tragic reality is that not all families get to celebrate a graduation, and Hand to Hold is committed to offering support services for bereaved families as well."
The annual NICU Grad Then and Now Photo Contest was launched in 2023 by Hand to Hold with support from presenting sponsor Huggies. Huggies has been a sponsor of Hand to Hold for nearly a decade, helping to remove barriers for thousands of NICU families each year and expand access to the many free resources Hand to Hold offers to NICU parents and loved ones, including comprehensive, early-intervention mental health support. In 2024, Hand to Hold provided nearly 111,500 sessions of virtual and in-person support to families across the country.
"I love our long and enduring Huggies partnership with Hand to Hold, helping to provide programs to support NICU babies and their families," said Matt Barresi, North American Vice President of Huggies. "The NICU experience is so personal and touches so many…including me. My amazing niece Sloane was born at just over 35 weeks – and now she's a happy, healthy, and thriving two year old and NICU graduate! Love you Sloane!"
This year, the contest will culminate in a yearbook as opposed to a calendar, as in previous contests, to foster increased inclusivity. Contest participants who raise $50 or more will be featured in the 2025 NICU Grad Then and Now yearbook with their "class photos." Printed yearbooks will be for sale for $25 and the digital yearbook will be available for free. Additional space for advertising or to honor loved ones will be available for purchase.
The contest opens at 9:00 a.m. (CST) on May 1, 2025 and closes on May 18, 2025 at 10:00 p.m. (CST). The contest is free to enter and open to all NICU graduates of any age in the U.S. and Canada.
Learn more about the contest, including prizes, and cast your vote for your favorite NICU graduate here.
Category Years (based on the year the child graduated from the NICU):
- Class of '25 - '24: Huggies® Little Snugglers ®
- Class of '23 - '22: Huggies® Little Movers ®
- Class of '21 -'20: Huggies® Pull-Ups ®
- Class of '19 - '14: Elementary
- Class of '13 - '11: Middle School
- Class of '10 - '07: High School
- Class of '06 & Earlier: Adult Grads
Voting:
- 100% of proceeds directly support NICU families through Hand to Hold®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
- All votes are tax-deductible.
- Donate to vote. Votes are $1 each and are unlimited.
- Win great prizes! Your child could be featured on the cover of our 2025 NICU Grad Then and Now yearbook, you could win gifts to support your NICU team, and much more!
Hand to Hold
Hand to Hold is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides early intervention mental health support, educational resources and community before, during and after a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Hand to Hold provides support to parents at no cost to families and all support is designed with the emotional, physical and social needs of the NICU parent in mind. The mental health support staff is composed of NICU graduate and bereaved parents with specialized training. For more information, visit HandToHold.org.
Huggies® Brand
For more than 40 years, Huggies® has been helping parents provide love, care and reassurance to their babies. From developing innovative, everyday products for babies to partnering with NICU nurses to develop a special diaper and wipes line for the most fragile babies, Huggies® is dedicated to helping ensure all babies get the care they need to thrive. Huggies® is proud to be the founding sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need in America since 2011. Huggies® is also the national sponsor of nonprofit Hand to Hold, which provides personalized support before, during and after NICU stays and infant loss. For more information on product offerings or our community efforts, please visit Huggies.com.
Media Contacts: Lauren Brown
[email protected]
(512) 771-3358
SOURCE Hand to Hold
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