Heroes and Supporters

Award for Courage

In 2006, the Foundation awarded the first Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Award to Brooke Shields for her work to spread awareness about postpartum depression.

Her book, "Down Came the Rain," chronicled her personal experience fighting this disease. She has appeared on the Oprah Show, The Today Show and The View to spread awareness and to help other women who might be suffering from postpartum depression. We applaud you, Brooke, for your courage. Keep up the good work!

Please read Brooke's letter and other comments from some of the Courageous Mothers who have shared their stories with us.

Our Heroes and Supporters

We are so grateful to the many people and organizations who generously give their time, expertise and funds to help support the Foundation's mission. Healthcare professionals, journalists, mothers, actors, politicians and more are making a difference in the lives of many.

Mayor Richard J. Daley	"I commend your efforts to develop a postpartum treatment program in Jennifer's memory with Evanston Northwestern Healthcare and to promote public awareness of the symptoms of this illness."
Tipper Gore	"I offer my condolences to, and sincerely commend, Jennifer's loved ones for taking a personal tragedy and turning it into a humanitarian cause"
Brooke Shields	"Thank you to Dr. and Mrs. Charles Mudd. Their experience serves as a reminder that untreated, Postpartum Depression can have a devastating outcome."

Scholarship for Healthcare Professionals
Congratulations to Olga M. Tolscik, M.D., MPH from Amarillo, Texas! The Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Foundation granted Dr. Tolscik a scholarship to attend the 21st Annual Postpartum Support International Conference, which takes place June 20-23, 2007. In her winning essay, Dr. Tolscik writes that she plans to use the knowledge gained at the conference to "learn how to best empower women to obtain the services they need to get better." Additionally, she plans to "encourage prental and postnatal screening and promote algorithms for clinicians to follow to get women help in a timely matter."