Indy Standard

State Representative Dave Heine of Fort Wayne has honored Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes (SHBB), with the Sagamore of the Wabash award. This prestigious accolade recognizes Kelsey's significant contributions to addressing infant abandonment.

"Monica's dedication to newborns and mothers in crisis is truly remarkable," stated Heine. "Being able to transform her own traumatic start in life into a national initiative that addresses infant abandonment so that no child experiences it as she did is inspiring. It was an honor to present her with such a prominent award."

Kelsey established SHBB to provide solutions for infant abandonment by offering a 24-hour crisis hotline for mothers and safe, anonymous locations where women can surrender their newborns as a last resort. These baby boxes, which originated in Woodburn, Indiana, have expanded to 15 states. The organization also promotes awareness of Indiana's Safe Haven Law, which allows mothers to surrender infants less than 30 days old at designated safe locations without fear of prosecution.

Reflecting on the success of the baby boxes program, Kelsey attributed it to her team's perseverance: "... because our team never gave up," she said. "Our team never stopped believing in the dream that I had."

Since its inception, SHBB has facilitated over 150 legal surrenders and received more than 9,000 calls to its crisis line from across the United States.

The Sagamore of the Wabash award dates back to the mid-1940s and is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed by Indiana's governor. It recognizes Hoosiers who have provided distinguished service to the state and contributed significantly to its history.