The Angel Baby Foundation took 2009 off from fundraising to focus our efforts on using previously raised funds to help families in need. Spinal Muscular Atrophy continues to be the number one genetic killer of children under two years old. Caring for an affected child places an enormous emotional and financial burden on these families. Your support has helped us to personally live up to our mission to provide emotional and financial support to ease the burden of SMA on families.

This year we helped families buy groceries and buy baby supplies such as diapers and formula and also provided meals and cleaning services so that families can focus on caring for their affected child. This year we helped throw a birthday party for a child affected with SMA. Most recently with the help of our most loyal supporters we conducted a very successful clothing drive and prepared an entire family for winter and also sent them $1,000 in groceries! These families are truly grateful for the unique support that we provide. We also provided gift baskets to affected children and families including items that we found helpful and comforting while caring for Cameron. This year we are also planning to send each family that has contacted us with a holiday gift basket to remind them that the Angel Baby Foundation continues to be here to support them and remember their Angels. We would not have been able to provide any of this support this year without your donations.

We again donated funds to Families of SMA earmarked for education. The second FSMA educational brochure was published and distributed this year thanks to the ABF's sponsorship. We continue to work with the Claire Altman Heine Foundation in their efforts to make genetic testing for SMA available for every couple planning a pregnancy. We feel this is a very important project as one in forty people is a carrier of the SMA gene. Thanks to the CAHF carrier testing is currently available by simple blood test and more routinely offered. Jamie and one of her dietitian colleagues Katy Vojack are also co-writing another educational brochure on Nutrition in SMA in conjunction with the FSMA Medical Board.

In 2010 we plan to broaden our fundraising to corporate sponsorship to help us continue to raise funds to be used toward our mission of easing the burden of SMA on families. Please continue to check our website for more details.

We would also like to ask you to visit www.harleyhelpinghands.com to learn about a new not-for-profit organization to help families affected by brain cancer founded in honor of our friend Kit Harley and his family.

Thank you again, and we look forward to your continued support.

Sincerely,

John & Jamie Shish

Co-founders of The Angel Baby Foundation