{{Short description|U.S. nonprofit organization}} {{Infobox company | logo = Project Cuddle logo.png | name = Project Cuddle | type = Non-Profit | founded = 1994 in Orange County, California | founder = Debbe Magnusen | key_people = Debbe Magnusen (Founder and CEO)<br/> John Stamos (National Spokesperson)<br/> Ed Idell (Board President) | website = {{URL|https://projectcuddle.org/}} }} '''Project Cuddle''' is a nationwide California-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing baby abandonment.<ref name="Flavin2008">{{cite book|last=Flavin|first=Jeanne|title=Our Bodies, Our Crimes: The Policing of Women's Reproduction in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ekaWZJHfqMC&pg=PA222|accessdate=August 21, 2012|year=2008|publisher=New York University Press|location=New York, London|isbn=978-0-8147-2754-6|page=222}}</ref> It works with pregnant women in distress to provide shelter, to give guidance to find medical and prenatal care, and to help find adoptive families.<ref name="PCAbout">{{cite web | url=http://projectcuddle.org/?page_id=325 | title=About | publisher=Project Cuddle | accessdate=August 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716203227/http://projectcuddle.org/?page_id=325 | archive-date=July 16, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Its national spokesperson is actor John Stamos.<ref name="Giacinta2009">{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna33309222 | title=John Stamos: Saving babies from abandonment | publisher=NBC News | date=October 15, 2009 | access-date=August 22, 2012 | author=Pace, Giacinta}}</ref> The Believe Campaign was created by Project Cuddle, It was created to spread awareness to American teens about the "Safe Haven" laws. Project Cuddle along with celebrities John Stamos and Denise Richards have helped to create an educational video that is available to distribute for free to Health clinics and schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://projectcuddle.org/how-you-can-help/|title=Believe Campaign|website=projectcuddle.org|accessdate=3 May 2017}}</ref> It operates a 24/7 toll-free hotline which treats all calls as confidential.<ref name="PCAbout" /> Project Cuddle and its founder, Debbe Magnusen, were featured in a ''People'' magazine article in February 2007 in the popular column Heroes Among Us,<ref name="PeopleMagazine">{{cite web | url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062677,00.html | title=She Finds Homes for Abandoned Babies - 564 and Counting | publisher=People | accessdate=August 6, 2012}}</ref> on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' in April 2000,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Should Women Be Allowed to Abandon Their Babies? |series= Oprah |network= CBS|date= April 19, 2000|language=English}}</ref> and again on a special "Cheers To You!" episode on May 9, 2007.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Cheers to You! |series= Oprah |network= CBS|date= May 9, 2007|language=English}}</ref> The organization has also been featured on ABC News,<ref>{{Cite episode |series= ABC News|network= ABC|date= May 4, 2000|language=English}}</ref> CBS News,<ref>{{Cite episode |series= CBS News|network= CBS|date= August 2, 1998|language=English}}</ref> and ''Dateline Houston''.<ref>{{Cite episode |series= Dateline Houston|network= NBC|date= January 2000|language=English}}</ref>
== History ==
Project Cuddle was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity in 1994 by Debbe Magnusen after having the realization that every day babies were being abandoned around the world by mothers of all ages. She started Project Cuddle in her living room in Costa Mesa, California, with the goal of ending baby abandonment as well as giving care and support to pregnant women. Within 12 hours of opening their 24-hour hotline to callers, they received their first call from a young mother.<ref name="PCHistory">{{Cite web |url=http://projectcuddle.org/about/history |title=History |accessdate=July 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130730230731/http://projectcuddle.org/about/history |archivedate=July 30, 2013 }}</ref> The California State Auditor reported that 404 babies were abandoned in California alone between 2001 and 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Howle|first=Elaine|title=Safely Surrendered Baby Law|url=http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2007-124.pdf|publisher=Bureau of State Audits|accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref> As of August 2015 the volunteers and employees of Project Cuddle have saved 786 babies from being abandoned and provided the mothers with alternatives.<ref name="PCHistory"/>
==Awards== * Disneyland Show Your Character Award - 2005 * Received a resolution from the 37th State Senate District of California that recognized July 13, 2013, as Baby Abandonment Prevention Awareness day from State Senator Mimi Walters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Mimi Walters and California Senate Resolution Baby Abandonment Prevention Awareness Day|url=http://www.prlog.org/12173898-senator-mimi-walters-and-california-senate-resolution-baby-abandonment-prevention-awareness-day.html|publisher=PRLog|accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://projectcuddle.org/}} * [https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/cheers-to-you Cheers to you!] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141211131338/http://www.zdf.de/auslandsjournal/aussendienst-xxl-34456806.html "Heranwachsen rund um den Globus" - Cuddler] TV Report (außendienst by ZDF auslandsjournal) in German language
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Category:Non-profit organizations based in California Category:Human rights organizations based in the United States
{{US-philanthropy-org-stub}} Category:501(c)(3) organizations