This year’s Gerber Baby is a military kid from Colorado with a captivating look and even more adventurous spirit.
Maddie Mendoza also won the 13th annual Gerber Baby photo search because of an adorable throwback photo of her mom as a baby and her parent’s story of love and resilience. For the first time ever, parents were encouraged to submit photos of themselves as babies and their own baby.
“With Gerber’s continued support of March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs, together, we can make a lasting impact on maternal and infant health, ensuring that every baby has the best start in life. We’re proud to be part of Photo Search again and join Gerber in congratulating Maddie and her family!,” March of Dimes Senior Vice President Kelly Ernst said in a statement.
‘Rainbow baby, Maddie, has brought us immeasurable joy’
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The 10-month old came into the world with a with a full head of hair, captivating expression and the most joyful attitude just like her mom, Crystal Mendoza.
Maddie enjoys music classes, swim lessons, hikes and trying new foods with her parents in Colorado Springs.
Maddie’s parents, Crystal and Jun were high school sweethearts and have been together for 22 years. Crystal is a dentist and Jun is a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force.
Both of Maddie’s parents are from first generation families from the Philippines with both of her grandparents serving having served in the U.S. Navy, immigrating to the U.S. with very little.
“Being a rainbow baby, Maddie has brought us immeasurable joy with every milestone, snuggle and moment spent with her enriching our lives and making every day more meaningful and beautiful,” Mendoza said in a statement.
A baby born after a pregnancy loss is commonly referred to as a rainbow baby.
“We look forward to witnessing her grow into a kind, compassionate, strong, independent and worldly individual as we hope to be stationed overseas again to teach Maddie about all the different parts of the world,” she said.
What does the Gerber baby win?
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The family was awarded free Gerber products for up to a year, a new wardrobe from Gerber, surprise perks from Gerber partners and a $25,000 prize. Gerber will also match Maddie’s cash prize with a donation to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.
As Gerber gets ready to feature Maddie on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year, the company’s president said he couldn’t think of anyone better to represent the brand.
“Gerber has always believed in the magic of babies, and Maddie’s story, filled with love, resilience, and adventure, embodies the spirit of generations of Gerber babies. The throwback submission of Maddie and her mom brought a smile to the judges’ faces and perfectly captured the spirit of this year’s program. We’re excited to partner with Maddie and her family throughout the next year to highlight the full-circle journey from baby to parent,” Tarun Malkani, Gerber President & CEO, said in a statement.
