Danielle Christopher

 Walmart is about to pick a finalist of their inaugural Mom of the Year Award. A total of 16,909 moms were nominated! They had a hard job I am sure to narrow it down to eight finalists. The eight finalists will each receive $10,000 for personal use and $10,000 to their charity that they have chosen.  Later this month there will be a gala to celebrate the finalists, and the Mom of the Year will be announced. That Mom will receive $100,000 for her charity!

Meet a few of these amazing women and learn more about them all at www.momoftheyear.ca , it might inspire you like it did me to give more.

A couple that jumped out of me are the selfless women who took in foster kids. Let it be known, I was a foster kid in my later  teens. While I was fortunate to have a great foster mom, I saw a lot of kids who could have benefited from these amazing moms. It takes a strong heart and soul to take in children that do not have anywhere to go. I was lucky, like the kids that found love and security with these moms.

Tammy MacKinnon was nominated by her husband! Her charity is I W K Health Center Foundation which has helped many kids and women on the road to health. Find out more here. http://iwkfoundation.org

“Tammy has opened her home and heart to more than 30 foster children over the years. She has adopted 2 children from China and is raising 2 biological children as well. She’s relentless in the pursuit of a meaningful life for her children and any children she comes in contact with. Her home and yard is never closed to the neighborhood children. She started an adoption coalition, an adoption website, an organization that helped raise money for playgrounds in Chinese orphanages, is the treasurer for a Canadian group helping poor children get an education and healthy meal every day.” For her full story read it here.

Another amazing mom is Eileen Thiessen who was nominated by her proud daughter. Eileen’s charity is Special Olympics Manitoba. Find out more here: http://www.specialolympics.mb.ca

“I would like to nominate my mom Eileen Thiessen. My parents have been foster parents for 46 years. I have 3 sisters and 3 brothers, as well as 2 foster sisters. 5 of us are adopted. There are also 5 grandchildren. With the exception of one brother and I, the kids are all mentally handicapped. The kids are all adults now but that didn’t stop my mom from being a mom. She and my dad bought a house a block down from the family home, and the kids stayed in the family home with full time staff.” Read her full story here.

I do not envy the judges now. After meeting these amazing women through this campaign I am thrilled to share that Walmart will be doing it again next year!! Be sure to visit www.momoftheyear.ca and like them on Facebook ( facebook.com/walmartcanada) to learn more about the wonderful nominees and when next years will be open.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Walmart program by Mom Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own. Mom of the Year Award: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY Internet access and valid email account required. Nominations open May 10, 2012 to July 8, 2012 for legal residents of Canada over the age of majority. Entrants cannot nominate themselves. One (1) grand prize available to be won consisting of $10,000 cash, a $100,000 donation by Wal-mart Canada Corp. to charity/cause and a trip to Toronto (ARV $22,000). Seven (7) runner-up prizes available to be won consisting of $10,000 cash, a $10,000 donation to charity/cause and a trip to Toronto (ARV $22,000). Charity/cause subject to verification and final approval by Wal-mart Canada Corp., at its sole discretion. Odds of winning depend on how the judging panel evaluates each entry according to the criteria. For Official Contest Rules and to nominate an entrant, visit [www.momoftheyear.ca].