NEC Society
We chose May to be NEC Awareness Month because we will only build a world without NEC by partnering with and elevating mothers. Mothers are accelerating NEC research, education, and advocacy, and providing the most protective therapy against NEC—their milk.
Science is essential to our vision of a world without NEC, but it takes an average of 17 years for research evidence to reach clinical practice. We chose the 17th of May because we cannot wait 17 years for today’s emerging NEC research to reach our babies in the NICU. We need to prevent NEC now. We need a world without NEC today.
Our motto, “from pain to power,” recognizes the profound heartache and trauma that follow a NEC diagnosis, and the remarkable strength it takes to channel anguish into helping other families.
In honor of #NECday on May 17, please show us how NEC has impacted your life and consider making a donation to support the NEC Society’s work.
Here’s how you can amplify, support, and build our movement:
Advocate
Work with your State Representative or Senator to have your state recognize NEC Awareness Day. Read our full guide here.
In 2023, California became the first state to officially declare May 17 NEC Awareness Day.
NEC Society’s Executive Director and founder, Jennifer Canvasser, worked with her local Assembly member, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, to officially declare May 17th as NEC Awareness Day in California. Initiatives like this spread awareness throughout our communities and to our local and state officials about the urgency of our work.
Support the NEC Society
Start a fundraising page in honor of a baby affected by NEC.
Fundraising pages are a great opportunity to share your story, raise awareness, and provide the NEC Society with the necessary resources to fuel our work. Create your page here.
The NEC Society relies on donations to support groundbreaking projects like the NEC Biorepository, Research Incubator, and awareness campaigns to ensure that families and clinicians have the latest information on this disease.
This May, we’re urging our community to organize local events to honor the children and families affected by NEC. Host a family benefit, walk/run, golf outing, gala, dinner party/barbecue, bake sale, garage sale, & more. Read our event guide here.
Raise Awareness
Share, hashtag, and wear your support for a world without NEC.
Share your story on social media. Tag us Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, & X. Use the hashtags: #preventNEC #NECday
Print and share our NEC Awareness Day poster
Order your NEC gear by shopping at the NEC Society’s online store
Wear blue and green, the colors of NEC awareness (blue for peace and healing and green for the digestive system.)
