he Million Moms Challenge Announces Winner of “Imagine Me & You” Photo Contest

Today, the Million Moms Challenge, in collaboration with ABC News, the United Nations Foundation, Disney Baby and Anne Geddes, announced the winner of “Imagine Me & You” – a photo contest to connect and celebrate mothers around the world.

The winner is Allison Dearstyne, from Dunkirk, Maryland. Dearstyne, a ninth grade history teacher, her husband, Richard and their 2-month-old baby girl Clara Noel have won the opportunity to travel to Sydney, Australia for an exclusive photo shoot with world-renowned photographer Anne Geddes.

“I’m moved by how many mothers have come together through this contest,” said Geddes. “The Million Moms Challenge created this contest to celebrate the dream of mothers everywhere for healthy, happy babies who will grow to reach their full potential. I’m looking forward to meeting the Dearstyne family and continuing to be part of this strong community of mothers helping mothers.”

Geddes chose the winner, one of 12 finalists from hundreds of entries from expectant moms around the U.S. who submitted photos of their “baby bump” along with an original, creative message written on their bellies capturing their wishes and dreams for life with their little one. Dearstyne’s entry read “May You Stay Forever Young,” a lyric from a Bob Dylan song she loved as a child.

“I love Anne Geddes work’ and I especially love this cause,” said Dearstyne. “It was exciting to see my friends vote knowing that each ‘like’ on the Million Moms Challenge facebook page raised money for moms in need. I’m honored to be part of such an awesome project- what a perfect place for our first family vacation!”

Realizing that a healthier tomorrow for our world starts with healthy moms and babies today, the Million Moms Challenge engages millions of Americans with millions of moms in developing countries around issues that affect pregnancy, childbirth and children’s health.

The three contest finalists won a year’s worth of Huggies brand diapers, and each of the 12 semi-finalists received a gift basket from Disney Baby, a new brand from Disney Consumer Products, which provides parents with the essentials they need to bond with baby at every stage, valued at $500. Disney Baby has also pledged support the Million Moms Challenge by donating $50,000 to several of the largest NGOs helping moms and babies throughout the world.

To get involved in the conversation about healthy moms and babies around the world, follow @AMillionMoms on Twitter and use the hash-tag #AMillionMoms.

The Million Moms Challenge is a joint effort of ABC News and the UN Foundation, in conjunction with corporate partners Johnson & Johnson and BabyCenter.  The Million Moms Challenge partners include some of the world’s most respected NGOs, including African Medical and Research Foundation, CARE, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, GAVI Alliance, mothers2mothers, ONE, Partners in Health, Riders for Health, Save the Children, the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign, US Fund for UNICEF, White Ribbon Alliance, and WorldVision, the UN Refugee Agency, Americans for UNFPA , Helen Keller International, International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, and Every Mother Counts.

To sign up for the Million Moms Challenge go to www.millionmomschallenge.com. The Million Moms Challenge is part of the year-long global health series “Be the Change: Save a Life,” which is sponsored in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

About ABC News

ABC News is responsible for all of the ABC Television Network’s news programming on a variety of platforms: television, radio and the Internet.  Its flagship program is “World News with Diane Sawyer” with other programs including “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “Primetime,” “20/20,” and the Sunday morning political affairs program “This Week with Christiane Amanpour.” With an average television and radio audience of 180 million people in a given month, ABC News surpasses the competition.  More than 2,400 affiliate stations broadcast ABC News Radio’s global news coverage.  In addition, ABC News NOW is a 24-hour news and information network currently available to 44 million users across cable, broadband, and mobile platforms. NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News, provides live and packaged news, sports, and weather reports, as well as footage of news events, to 200 ABC affiliates and more than 30 domestic and international clients. Visit www.abcnews.com.

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through campaigns and partnerships, the organization connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The campaigns reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes. These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About Anne Geddes

One of the world’s most respected photographers, Anne Geddes creates images that are iconic, multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed, and beloved. Like no photographer before, her imagery singularly captures the beauty, purity, vulnerability, and preciousness of children, embodying her deeply held belief that each and every child must be protected, nurtured, and loved.
Throughout her career Anne Geddes has continued to give back.  In 1992 Anne, with her husband Kel, started The Geddes Philanthropic Trust to raise funds and awareness worldwide for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. In 2011, Anne was proud to announce her partnership with the United Nation’s Every Woman, Every Child initiative, which she hopes will continue to help make the health and welfare of pregnant women, and newborn children, a global priority. Anne’s work has been published in 83 countries and her books have sold more than 18 million copies worldwide.  Visit www.AnneGeddes.com.

About Disney Baby

DisneyBaby provides parents with the essentials they need for Creating Magical Moments Right From The Start™. Through parent-inspired designs, developed by our own team of Disney Momgineers, Disney Baby offers today’s parents everything they need to bond with baby at every stage. The Disney Baby line includes essentials for Apparel, Nursery, On the Go, Bathtime, Feeding, Discovery and Celebration. The Disney Baby collection’s debut item is the patent-pending Disney Cuddly Bodysuit™, made with Disney Huggable Soft 100% Cotton™ and featuring Snaps That Grow With Your Baby ™ for longer wear. For more information, please visit www.disneybaby.com or join us at www.YouTube.com/DisneyBaby like us at www.Facebook.com/DisneyBaby and follow us at www.Twitter.com/DisneyBaby. You can find the Disney Cuddly Bodysuit™ available for purchase on www.Amazon.com/disneybaby.