"Bunnies for Babies” Initiative Brings Comfort to NICU Families, Invites Community Support
- Davron Bowman
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 7
– Lexington, KY – A Kentucky mother’s creativity and gratitude are sparking a movement of comfort for the tiniest patients. Caroline Bentley Noble – a former celebrity fashion designer turned mom – has founded “Bunnies for Babies,” a community initiative to provide handmade stuffed bunny toys and care packages to families in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). After her own premature twins survived a harrowing 5-month NICU journey, Noble is on a mission to give back to other families and the health care heroes who cared for her children.
During the winter of 2023, Noble’s twins were born at just 23 weeks gestation, each weighing barely over 1 pound. The experience was life-changing. “The staff at UK Hospital picked me up off the floor and carried me through the hardest time in my life,” said Noble. “I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to show them gratitude.” As a way to say thank you, Noble began sewing whimsical stuffed bunnies for every doctor, nurse, and staff member in the NICU. With the help of friends, she crafted enough custom bunnies for the entire care team. The handmade gifts were a heartfelt token – each one-of-a-kind, often made from upcycled fabrics with personal significance. (One bunny was sewn from Noble’s grandmother’s old dining room chair covers, another fabric she adores.)
The gesture struck a chord. Nurses and parents alike found the bunnies to be symbols of hope and comfort amid the stress of the NICU. “It lets families know someone else has been through this and made it through,” said Anna Bullard, a NICU social worker who distributes the bunnies to new parents. “It can bring a smile on a scary day.” Seeing the positive impact, Noble expanded her project into a full nonprofit organization. In early 2024 she launched Lucky in Kentucky, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supporting NICU families through Bunnies for Babies. Since then, nearly 1000 plush bunnies have been lovingly made and delivered to NICU staff, premature babies, and their anxious siblings and parents. Each family in the Kentucky Children’s Hospital NICU now receives a custom bunny to keep, and Noble has a goal to eventually provide a bunny to every NICU patient and caregiver in Kentucky.
“When I see a parent hug one of these bunnies, I know in my heart I’m doing the right thing,” Noble said. “I want them to feel the love and comfort I felt. It’s a little hug in bunny form.” “This mission has given me a purpose. It turned my pain into something beautiful.”
What makes Bunnies for Babies especially unique is Noble’s background in fashion and design. Prior to motherhood, she spent a decade in Los Angeles building her clothing brand Avenue C - with celebrity fans like Rihanna and Kylie Jenner wearing her creations. She even competed on HBO Max’s streetwear show “The Hype.” Now she’s channeling that same creative energy and entrepreneurial drive into her nonprofit work. Noble sources fun, colorful textiles locally – from thrift stores to donated fabrics – and works with volunteer seamstresses to scale up production of the bunnies.
“We can make a bunny out of just about anything,” she noted. “Rugs, curtains, you name it – we’ll turn it into something huggable.” This upcycling approach not only reduces waste, it allows donors to contribute materials that then become a comforting keepsake for a family in need.
In addition to the stuffed rabbits, Lucky in Kentucky provides “NICU care packages” filled with items to support families during long hospital stays. These packages may include handmade bracelets, gift cards for meals, and postpartum recovery supplies for new moms luckyinkentucky.org. Noble is also seeking partnerships to fund services like counseling and art therapy for NICU parents, to help ease the emotional toll of having a critically ill or premature newborns.
The response to Bunnies for Babies has been overwhelmingly positive. This grassroots effort has been featured in local and national media for its heartfelt mission. More importantly, it has created a ripple of kindness in the hospital. “Things that are happening here are miracles,” said Noble. “The doctors, nurses and entire staff at the UK Children's NICU and PICU are incredible. I just want to spread love and joy throughout this process, and bunnies are my avenue right now”.
As her own twins approach their second birthday healthy and thriving, Noble remains deeply committed to paying forward the support her family received.
Community members and businesses interested in supporting Bunnies for Babies can help in several ways:
Donations: A gift of $40 can sponsor one handmade bunny (covering materials and packaging) for a NICU baby or staff member. Any amount is welcome via the organization’s GoFundMe and direct donation links.
Fabric & Supplies: Clean, soft fabric donations (cotton, fleece, flannel, etc.) and sewing supplies are greatly appreciated. These materials will be transformed into bunnies and other comfort items. Any items sent to a P.O. box will be washed and sanitized before delivery.
Sponsorships: Lucky in Kentucky is seeking corporate sponsors to expand its reach. Sponsorships or grants will directly fund care packages and therapeutic services for NICU families.
Volunteering: Experienced sewers or anyone willing to help assemble care packages can get involved. “Every bunny is made with love, and there’s plenty of love to go around,” said Noble.
For more information about Lucky in Kentucky and the Bunnies for Babies initiative, or to learn how you can contribute, please visit www.LuckyInKentucky.org. On the website, you can read Caroline’s full story, see photos of the bunnies, and find links to donate or get in touch. Together, as Caroline Bentley Noble often reminds people, we can ensure “every bunny counts” – bringing hope, one snuggly bunny at a time, to those who need it most.
Media Contact: Caroline Bentley Noble – Founder, Lucky in Kentucky, Inc.Email: info@luckyinkentucky.org (or press@luckyinkentucky.org)Website: www.LuckyInKentucky.org
About Lucky in Kentucky, Inc.:
Lucky in Kentucky is a Lexington, KY-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Caroline Bentley Noble.
Its mission is to support neonatal intensive care patients, families, and healthcare staff through handmade gifts, custom care packages, and essential resources that provide comfort and joy during hospital stays luckyinkentucky.org.
Since its inception, the organization has donated hundreds of “Bunnies for Babies” plush toys and continues to expand its outreach with the help of community partners and donors.
About Caroline Bentley Noble:
Caroline Bentley Noble is a Kentucky-born designer, mother, and founder whose journey bridges high-fashion creativity with heartfelt community impact. Known for her custom streetwear brand Avenue C, her work has been worn by global icons like Rihanna and Kylie Jenner—and featured across Teen Vogue, Hypebae, and Highsnobiety.
After her twins’ premature birth, Caroline turned her artistry toward compassion, launching Bunnies for Babies, a nonprofit bringing comfort to NICU families through handmade plush keepsakes. Her story reflects the resilience, design instinct, and generosity that continue to define her life and work.
Explore Caroline Bentley Noble’s Work and Press
Hypebae – “Caroline Bentley Is the Designer Making Custom Clothing For Your Favorite Celebrities” https://hypebae.com/2018/7/caroline-bentley-noble-interview-v2-custom-streetwear-design
Teen Vogue – “This 26-Year-Old Streetwear Designer Counts Rihanna and Kylie Jenner as Fans” https://www.teenvogue.com/story/streetwear-designer-profile-caroline-bentley-noble-of-v2bentley
Highsnobiety – “The Designers on HBO Max’s The Hype Speak on Women in Streetwear” https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/hbo-max-the-hype-women-in-streetwear/
AHA – “From NICU to Nonprofit: How One Mom Is Bringing Bunny-Shaped Comfort to UK Healthcare and Beyond” https://www.aha.org/role-hospitals-nicu-nonprofit-how-one-mom-bringing-bunny-shaped-comfort-uk-healthcare-and-beyond
UK Now – “‘Bunnies for Babies’ Brings Big Comfort to Tiny Patients” https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/bunnies-babies-brings-big-comfort-tiny-patients-0
LEX 18 News – “Mom Uses Her Birth Experience to Help Others” https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/mom-uses-her-birth-experience-to-help-others
FOX 56 News – “Lexington Mother Uses Her Story to Empower Others With Uniquely Designed Bunnies” https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/lexington-mother-uses-her-story-to-empower-others-with-uniquely-designed-bunnies/
UK Healthcare – “Extraordinary People” https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/extraordinary-people
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