Mothers and their babies will be the recipients of a generous pledge made to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital by Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley.

The non-profit organization, whose name means “best for women,” will donate $25,000 over the next three years for a lactation room in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), scheduled to open in 2011.

“Our club is proud to be involved on the ground floor with the creation of Henry Mayo’s NICU. Having our name in the lactation room will be an honor,” said Rose Chegwin, Soroptimist member. “Most of us are mothers and know the importance of taking care of our baby’s early nutrition and health needs by breastfeeding. What better way than to have a place where there will be trained staff to help moms successfully achieve this?”

Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley, which boasts 83 members, will host the third annual Wine Affair, scheduled for October 17 on Town Center Drive in Valencia, to help fulfill the pledge. Over the last two years, the Wine Affair has raised $15,000 for the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center, a service of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

“The community has been instrumental in supporting our events, which bring people who live in the Santa Clarita Valley together as well as those from the Antelope and San Fernando Valley,” Chegwin said. “Last year’s event sold out before it even started.”

The pledge came about when Chegwin, who is also a Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation board member, heard of the hospital’s newest expansion efforts to add the NICU. Shortly thereafter, Chegwin presented Soroptimists with the opportunity, which was met with resounding enthusiasm.

“Soroptimists are women at their best, working to help other women be their best, and the lactation room is specifically designed for women to bond with their babies and provide them with the best form of nutrition,” she said. “We felt it was important to provide financial support for a service that is just for women.”

Diana Vose, Foundation president, was thrilled upon receiving news of the pledge.

“We are so fortunate to be the beneficiaries of Soroptimist International of Greater SCV efforts,” Vose said. “Their amazing energy and willingness to produce events to benefit Henry Mayo is very much appreciated.”

For more information on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Henry Mayo, visit www.henrymayo.com or call (661) 200-1201.