Mission
Gifts from Liam provides education, services, and resources to at-risk pregnant and parenting individuals in an effort to save babies. GFL focuses on disinvested communities experiencing higher stillbirth and infant mortality rates where access to quality health education and resources is lacking. GFL also aims to increase the availability and quality of bereavement support through its offering of culturally appropriate and bilingual bereavement support to marginalized populations experiencing perinatal and infant losses, and providing bereavement education to providers to improve the quality of bereavement care.
Vision
Provide global services to underserved communities to reduce preventable stillbirth and infant death through education and systems change. Ensure all families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss are provided culturally congruent, quality bereavement support.
Liam's Story
Anna Calix started this initiative in 2016 as a labor of love in honor of her first son, Liam Angel. What began as her bereaved motherhood journey, giving away Liam's unused clothes, toys, and diapers to other babies in need, quickly began transforming into a greater gift.
In an effort to fight the #DiaperGap and to honor Liam's 1st birthday, Liam's family hosted GFL's first Diaper Drive and collected 20,000 Diapers and other supplies. Since then, GFL has collected and distributed over 200,000 diapers, wipes, and other baby supplies as well as a Cuddle Cot to support bereaved families.
Diaper assistance programs are sustained entirely by in-kind donations and volunteers collected through diaper drives and partner locations called Diaper Depots. Donations are then distributed strategically and equitably through partner organizations in underserved communities throughout Chicago's South and West sides and South Suburbs.
Meet the Founder & Liam's Mom
Anna Calix, MPH
Founder & Executive Director