Mothers’ Milk Bank California Launches Healthy Start Fund

San Jose, CA (February 17, 2026) — Mothers’ Milk Bank California today announced the launch of the Healthy Start Fund, a $25,000 fund designed to provide donor human milk to families when cost would otherwise be a barrier.

Supported entirely through charitable gifts, the Healthy Start Fund expands access to safe, pasteurized donor human milk for infants with medical or nutritional needs, particularly during critical periods of recovery or transition. Donor milk is distributed based on medical need, available supply, and program capacity.

“Every baby deserves the best possible start in life, regardless of a family’s ability to pay,” said Jennifer Benito-Kowalski, Chief Executive Officer of Mothers’ Milk Bank California. “The Healthy Start Fund allows us to say ‘yes’ more often to families facing medical challenges alongside financial hardship. We are deeply grateful to the generous donors who made this possible.”

The Healthy Start Fund was launched with generous early support, including a leadership gift from Summit League, whose contribution helped establish the fund and expand access to donor human milk for families facing financial barriers.

Families seeking assistance through the Healthy Start Fund must obtain a prescription for donor human milk from their infant’s healthcare provider and submit a brief application form. Most families are approved to receive approximately 40 ounces of donor milk per week for one to two weeks, depending on medical need, available supply, and fund availability.

The Fund is intended to support families who are uninsured, underinsured, or experiencing financial challenges, particularly when donor milk is medically needed during an infant’s recovery, feeding complication, or transitional period after a NICU stay.

Initial funding will be distributed, as long as resources remain. Mothers’ Milk Bank California will continue to seek philanthropic support to replenish and expand the Healthy Start Fund in response to ongoing demand.

Families seeking support through the Healthy Start Fund should apply online here, and if you have questions or need assistance with the application, please email info@MothersMilk.org.

How to Support the Healthy Start Fund

The Healthy Start Fund removes financial barriers to milk donation and access. Contributions help pay for donor blood work, transportation of donated milk, and the testing and pasteurization required to safely provide donor human milk to infants in need. Donors may designate their gift online to “Healthy Start Fund.”

About Mothers’ Milk Bank California
Mothers’ Milk Bank California (MMBCA), a nonprofit HMBANA-accredited milk bank, collects, pasteurizes, and distributes human donor milk to hospitals and families across the western United States. Founded in 1974, MMBCA is committed to ensuring access to safe donor milk for all infants in need, supporting maternal health, and advancing the science of human milk.