Laila's Gift Celebration And Advocacy Center Opens In Aberdeen

ABERDEEN, MD — Laila's Gift Celebration and Advocacy Center, a first-of-its-kind in the nation, has opened in Aberdeen.

Laila’s Gift is a nonprofit organization that advocates for, supports and celebrates children with special needs and disabilities, as well as their families. Since their launch in 2022, they have served more than 700 families.

The Celebration and Advocacy Center is run by Laila's Gift and provides complimentary birthday celebrations and milestones for children with special needs and disabilities, as well as specialized programming, caregiver training and emotional support for parents and caregivers among other services.

“We are grateful for all the partners who have joined us to make our vision become a reality. Our commitment to special needs children and their families has always been at the heart of our mission, and this new initiative gives us an opportunity to host more celebrations and provide additional resources,” said Shari Bailey, founder and executive director of Laila's Gift.

The center is named after Laila Bailey. Shari Bailey gave birth to Laila and her twin sister Lana Sept. 5, 2014. Lana was healthy but Laila was born with a condition called Jacobsen Syndrome. At the time of her birth, there were less than 100 cases in the world. Due to health complications associated with the syndrome, roughly 20-25% of infants with Jacobsen Syndrome pass away before reaching the age of two. Since her birth, Laila has faced many adversities and challenges, yet has overcome them. Laila and Lana are now 9 years old.

"As a global leader, I spent and continue to spend my time serving the medical world by supporting the manufacturing of products used globally to help patients and consumers all over the world. For over 23 years, I have ensured thousands of people live better lives through innovative science. I never thought my biggest patient would live right under my roof," Shari Bailey said.

"My journey with Laila has changed my life in so many ways. I have learned, endured and withstood so much. Laila's Gift is my way to present caregivers (like myself) with an empathic and intimate understanding of the challenges we face, and support we need. For children like Laila, our commitment is to provide unwavering support and appreciation for the gift(s) they bring to the world," she continued.

Laila’s Gift Celebration and Advocacy Center, located at 1040 Hardees Drive, Suite F, in Aberdeen,
offers:

• Therapeutic recreation programs
• Advocacy and caregiver training
• Parent/guardian/caregiving emotional support
• Sibling support for siblings of children with special needs and disabilities
• Free birthday and milestone celebrations
• Family Experience Center specializing in capturing precious moments
• DEI through Arts - Bridging the inclusion gap by means of Art Therapy
• Regular Speaker Series to help motivate professional and personal caregivers, as well as members of the community
• Community Resource and Information Hub