History:
The
first activities associated to the current Mothers Legacy Project goals and
objectives began as a project inside of American Mothers , a non-profit,
nationally chartered organization to promote the values of motherhood. American Mothers has a vision to “strengthening
the moral and spiritual foundation of the family and home - “strong moms
strengthen families”. That purpose, was
to be further enhanced by developing a website that would gather together in
one place resources for aiding and inspiring mothers and augmenting the work
that American Mothers was already doing in support of motherhood and family
values.
The project became the Mothers Legacy Project (MLP) and quoting from one of the initial statements from that website, its role was “ affirming woman’s true nature of compassion, influence and service. [MLP] is a “lead by Example, community-based, global outreach service designed to honor, promote and support motherhood. Naturally, one of the methods of promoting those values has been provide a “library of inspiration” to tell the stories of valiant mothers in order to both honor those mothers and to provide possible role models for other mothers facing similar obstacles in their motherhood activities.
Again
quoting from the website: “The anticipated impact of the [Mother’s Legacy]
program is calculated to validate and inspire mothers in the great work they
are doing within their spheres of influence in homes and communities. The
following results can be expected from the successful implementation of the [Mothers
Legacy] program:
1. Mothers feel part of a great community of women facing similar challenges and goals in raising happy, productive children.
2. Mothers have a safe and value-based source for increasing motherhood skills.
3. Mothers have a safe and value-based source for exploring challenges and solutions.
4. Mothers have a trusted source for the modeling of healthy and productive parenting.
5.
Mothers have a central place from which to find service opportunities in
serving other mothers.”
As the
project activities expanded, it has partnered with other community
organizations, including the Portland State University, Woman’s Studies
Department. However, the charter of
American Mothers limits its geographic focus and the MLP was felt to have
international application. Therefore,
the MLP seperated from American Mothers to stand on it’s own objectives, and
has received its independent status as a Public Benefit Corporation under a
charter from the State of Oregon.
Future
Activities
One of
the first activities planned to reach beyond the borders of the United States
is a program that will collaborate with three other non-profit organizations
that directly help mothers and families in the countries they service. These are well established non-profits that
exhibit great integrity. The MLP and one
of the referenced no-profits would encourage members to recognize women of
merit on the MLP website with a donation requested or required. Proceeds from this activity would be shared
with the collaborating organizations. The
money raised from a donation will not only honor the donor’s own mother or
mother of choice, but will help fund another disadvantaged mother with the
purpose of assisting
those mothers who are anxious to build their livelihood, families and
communities through micro and small scale enterprises provided by these
donations. We hope to add more non-profit organizations to the pool for honored
donors to choose where to help mothers in need.
These
activities of providing inspirational and skill building materials and of
building synergetic relationships with other public benefit or charitable
organizations are anticipated to evolve over time as needs and opportunities
present themselves, but the fundamental purposes of the MLP will remain
constant