No one could have asked for a more fitting book launch than a fundraiser for the Pediatric Foundation of Georgia during the American Academy of Pediatrics, Georgia Chapter's annual meeting at Amelia Island--especially since What to Feed Your Baby: Cost-Conscious Nutrition for Your Infant was written as an outgrowth of the work I did as chairman of the committee on nutrition for chapter to lessen the cost of formula and expand the role of the WIC program in the state of Georgia.

It was a wonderful event. Kylia Crane, the Chapter's nutrition coordinator (and my collaborator on the tiered, color-coded algorithm that the Georgia Department of Public Health, the state's WIC program and the Academy distributed to all the pediatricians in the state) and Rick Ward, the Chapter executive director were instrumental in creating and promoting the event.

Not a single book was sold--intentionally. Instead, they were given to those who donated to the Foundation. Established in 1997 as the philanthropic arm of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the foundation goals are to promote the health, safety and well-being of Georgia children via philanthropic support of worthy projects and to support & sustain the practice of pediatrics as a medical specialty. The foundation has made recent gifts to organizations such as: Fragile Kids Foundation, Camp Kudzu, Kate’s Club, The Lionheart School, and Jay’s Hope Foundation.

As the author, I couldn't be more pleased, signing copies for many pediatricians I've known and worked with through the years. I also had the opportunity to meet others who were interested in the Foundation and in helping their patients' families establish the habit of good nutrition. And as a contributor to the Foundation, I received a copy of my own book--which I hope to have signed by Kylia and all the others who helped make the book the success it's become.