On May 9th, we gathered at the beautiful Great Bear Vineyard for the 2026 Lactation Impact Awards. An evening dedicated to the individuals and organizations who show up every day for California families navigating the world of infant feeding.
For those who couldn’t attend in person, the full digital program is available to view online including honoree bios, the gala itinerary, and information about how to support the Latch Line.
View the 2026 Lactation Impact Awards Digital Program →
Check Out The Event Photos
Have we told you how much fun we had celebrating at the 2026 Lactation Impact Awards? Ready to relive the evening? Didn’t get to attend and want to see what it was like?
We want to make sure that we give a huge thank you to our photographer for this event Jessica Heuer who made our event and our guests look even more gorgeous through her lens!
Click here for the 2026 Lactation Impact Awards Photos
A Special Message from California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came from someone who could not be in the room. California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber was called away on urgent State business, but she took the time to record a heartfelt video message for our guests and honorees that was shared with everyone in attendance and with you here now.
Dr. Weber was sworn in on January 29, 2021 as California’s 30th Secretary of State, making history as the first African American to hold the office. A true product of California’s public education system, she earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. from UCLA by the age of 26. Before entering state service, she spent 40 years as a professor at San Diego State University and served four terms in the California State Assembly, where she chaired the California Legislative Black Caucus.
Her willingness to take the time to acknowledge this community speaks to how far the work of lactation advocacy reaches and we are deeply grateful for her recognition and her words.
Congratulations to Our 2026 Honorees
We want to once again congratulate the people and organizations turning vision into reality. The CBC is proud to honor the following 2026 Lactation Impact Award recipients.
California Legacy in Lactation Award
Karen Farley, RDN, IBCLC
Karen’s 30-year journey in lactation advocacy is a masterclass in what sustained commitment looks like. From sparking critical conversations about Medi-Cal support to sponsoring five major breastfeeding bills and co-authoring the annual Hospital Breastfeeding Rates Report, Karen has been a foundational force behind the policies that protect California families today. She has also mentored hundreds of professionals throughout her career, leading always with both strategy and humanity.
California Lactation Justice Award
Brandi Gates Burgess, IBCLC
Brandi is the founder of Breast Friends Lactation and Support Services and one of the first Black IBCLCs in California. From her beginnings as a WIC Peer Counselor, she built a community-led, culturally rooted nonprofit that provides prenatal education, in-home consultations, and peer support across multiple counties. Breast Friends now employs a growing team of BIPOC lactation counselors and specialists ensuring the next generation of professionals looks like the communities they serve.
California Impact in Lactation Award
Sara Stone, IBCLC
Sara’s journey began over 20 years ago as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, motivated by her own experience as a young mother with a baby in the NICU. Today she serves as the Breastfeeding Coordinator for Shasta County, where her leadership was instrumental in Shasta County WIC receiving the 2025 USDA Premier Breastfeeding Award of Excellence. Sara is also a trailblazer in creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ families developing dedicated resources and championing unbiased, respectful language across her community.
Workplace Excellence Award
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
Fresno EOC is one of the largest nonprofit Community Action Agencies in the country, and they are leading the way in lactation support for their own workforce. Their commitment is written directly into the agency’s Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual, ensuring that every staff member across their 35+ programs has protected rights including access to clean private lactation spaces, paid break times, and direct access to IBCLCs and CLCs through their WIC partnerships. The result: lower postpartum stress and stronger employee retention across the board.
Workplace Excellence Award
Caltrans District 8
When the Women’s Empowerment Committee at Caltrans District 8 realized their lactation room was uninviting and lacked proper signage, they started a movement. Over six months, the committee mobilized the entire district collecting donations, partnering with Caltrans Facilities, and completely overhauling the space. The revamped room is now a sanctuary of support, and the success has sparked a new mission: replicating this standard across every lactation room in every hub throughout the district.
Physician of the Year
Dr. Sudha Rani Narasimhan
Dr. Narasimhan is a neonatologist and tireless champion for breastfeeding medicine at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, where she has served for over 18 years as Medical Director of Lactation Services. She holds the rare distinction of being certified by the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine, and she is the driving force behind the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative at SCVH and the centralized NICU milk room at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She also serves on the board of the California Breastfeeding Coalition bringing her expertise and her lived experience as a mother of three to every table she sits at.
Outstanding NICU
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
As a Level 4 regional safety-net NICU serving a primarily Hispanic population, SCVMC is setting a new standard for neonatal lactation care in California. While the state average for first colostrum administration is nearly 45 hours, SCVMC achieves this in just 7.5 hours. In 2024 they launched a holistic Family Wellness Program, integrating Certified Lactation Educators, tele-perinatal mental health services, weekly self-care classes, and a unique milk-tracking inventory because they understand that lactation success is tied to mental health and social stability.
Rising Star Award
Chantal Hover-Jones, MPH, CLES
As the Regional Breastfeeding Liaison for Santa Barbara County WIC, Chantal has proven that you don’t need decades in the field to move mountains. Her leadership in the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) initiative led Lompoc Valley Medical Center to become the first hospital in California to enroll in the national program. Under her guidance, fully breastfeeding rates at the Lompoc WIC site soared from 28.2% in 2023 to 40.5% in late 2025. Her work now serves over 19,000 participants monthly.
Equity in Lactation Award
Latina Chicana Lactation Taskforce (LatCh)
LatCh is a coalition of visionary Latina lactation specialists and advocates who have become a vital lifeline for Latinx families across California. Recognizing a desperate lack of relatable education for Spanish and Mam-speaking families, LatCh developed a series of high-quality, accessible video resources that hundreds of providers across the state now use to bridge gaps in care. Their mentorship of student IBCLCs is also actively building the next generation of Latina lactation professionals equipped with both clinical excellence and community leadership.
Hospital of the Year
Enloe Health
As the first hospital in Butte County to achieve Baby-Friendly designation in 2011, Enloe Health has spent over a decade proving that a private, independent health system can lead the way in equitable lactation care. In 2025: 92% of all babies born at Enloe received breast milk, 84% of newborns breastfed within the first hour of life, 98% were placed skin-to-skin immediately after birth, and 72% of families were exclusively breastfeeding at discharge. Their care doesn’t end at the hospital doors… Deep collaboration with WIC, the NorCal Lactation Coalition, and local pediatric offices ensures every family gets a warm handoff.
Honoring: Karen Evon
We also took time to honor Karen Evon a foundational pillar of the lactation profession in Northern California who dedicated over five decades to protecting and promoting the bond between parent and child. Her journey began in 1966 with La Leche League, and she went on to become a member of the inaugural class of International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants in 1986. Karen’s motto to every parent was simple and profound: “Remember to enjoy your baby.” To honor her enduring influence, the Karen Evon Scholarship continues her mission by funding preparatory coursework and exam fees for aspiring IBCLCs.
Thank You to Our In-Kind Partners
This event would not have been possible without the generosity of organizations that believe in the power of community and the importance of maternal health. A heartfelt thank you to our 2026 in-kind partners:
- Bloom Daily Planners
- Trader Joe’s
- Nugget Markets
Your contributions helped us create an evening worthy of the people we were celebrating.
Help Us Build the Latch Line
One of the most meaningful parts of the 2026 Lactation Impact Awards was the opportunity to raise funds for the Latch Line — one of the CBC’s most ambitious projects to date.
What is the Latch Line? The Latch Line is a multi-layered support system designed to connect California families with the lactation resources they need, when they need them. It has two major components:
The Latch Line Directory — launching August 2026, a searchable, location-based tool where families can find lactation support near them, from IBCLCs and CLCs to WIC offices and community organizations. No more wondering where to turn. Families will be able to search by ZIP code and find the right support, fast.
The Latch Line — launching August of 2027, a warm line that will allow families to call and speak directly with someone who can connect them to resources and guidance in real time. Because sometimes what a family needs most is a real person on the other end of the line.
Together, these two components will create a truly accessible, end-to-end support system for families navigating the complexities of infant feeding across California.
At the 2026 Lactation Impact Awards, 21 generous donors raised $1,453 toward our $5,000 fundraising goal. We are 29% of the way there and we need your help to get the rest of the way by our fundraising goal deadline of May 31st!
Every dollar you give goes directly toward making sure no California family has to navigate infant feeding alone.