December Milestone Report

First Things First

In this issue, we highlight…

The Lullaby Project: connecting parents and children through song writing
Seeds of Promise Campaign CONTEST
Brainwaves: Dance of the Nappy!

GROW WITH FTF

Learn More about the Lullaby Project here!

We have partnered with the Northwest Indiana Symphony and The Great Lakes Music Company, and the Northwest Indiana Center for Maternal Wellness to bring Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project to mothers of babies ages 0–3.

This free, 5-week program supports mothers in writing custom lullabies for their little ones, participating in music-assisted relaxation, and connecting with a community of moms across Northwest Indiana.

To receive more information about our Spring 2026 Cohort, email info@firstthingsfirst.org

Listen to the Camp Collaboration 2025 Lullaby

DID YOU KNOW?

Seeds of Promise Campaign Contest

We have a BIG GOAL!
We can't achieve it without you;
let's enroll 365 babies in Seeds of Promise by the end of 2025!

Seeds of Promise is a universal, at-birth children’s savings account available to every baby with a Porter County address—no income requirements! Families receive $100 for their child’s future education when they claim their funds before the child’s first birthday! More details and FAQ can be found at www.firstthingspc.org/savings.

By planting the Seeds of Promise, you help families invest in their baby’s future. You play a significant role in reaching families as a trusted voice. Together, we can make Porter County a place that believes in every child’s educational future; where each baby knows their community is rooting for them! Want a chance to earn an exciting prize for your organization while providing future opportunity to local babies? Join our promotion contest! Here’s how it works:

1. Plant some seeds

Encourage families to claim their baby’s money—clients, employees, friends, community members.

Examples: home visits, health appointments, parent groups, resource fairs, or social media.

2. Report back

Each time you share about Seeds of Promise, let us know on this online form
Submit your qualifying experiences no later than January 13, 2026.

3. Earn entries

Every share you report = 1 contest entry for your organization

Prizes

One winning organization will be drawn at random on January 14, 2026. Choose from one of four prizes:

Coffee truck visit at your site
Pizza party for your team
$500 Gift certificate to Lakeshore Learning
$500 Donation to another Porter County nonprofit serving Prenatal–Age 3 families

Earn your entries!

BRAINWAVES

Watch Here!

"Dance of the Nappy"

Why does conversation and laughter matter for babies as much during nappy changing as during any other activity? The short film 'dance of the nappy' shows you!

One of five dances featured in the film 'the connected baby', released in 2011, the nappy dance shows how surprisingly attuned even young baby brains are to every nuance of a mother's movements.

LINK & SYNC

CLICK HERE to join via zoom

CLICK HERE to share your community message

Let’s link together and sync up! Here are some programs & events happening right now in the community.

Click on the bulletin board to learn more.