NICU Grad Then & Now Photo Contest

Welcome to our Photo Contest! This celebration unites NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) families while raising funds to ensure Hand to Hold support services remain free to all NICU and bereaved families across the U.S. 100% of all proceeds will directly benefit Hand to Hold, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that provides vital support, educational resources and community for NICU parents.

The contest is free to enter and open to all NICU graduates.

1 in 10 babies are admitted to the NICU each year in the U.S. Some stay for a few days for monitoring, while others may stay for many months, as they overcome challenges associated with prematurity, low birth weight, birth defects or major medical issues, such as heart defects. "NICU Graduation" is an emotional and celebratory milestone for families regardless of the duration. When a baby is born early or with special healthcare concerns, milestones have a very different meaning.

Win great prizes! Enter your favorite "Then" & "Now" photos of your child for a chance to win a coveted spot in our new 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now Yearbook, gifts for your child's NICU team and much more. The top vote earner will be featured on the cover of the yearbook!

View frequently asked questions about the contest and yearbook.

Guarantee a Yearbook Spot for your NICU Grad

1/4 Page Yearbook Ad

26 spots, hurry and get yours now! Choose your NICU grad's Then & Now photos and secure a special dedication for your NICU grad that you will always cherish. This allows you to celebrate your NICU grad in a unique way and give back, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting NICU families through Hand to Hold®, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit.

1/4 Page Yearbook Ad →

1/8 Page Yearbook Ad

56 spots, hurry and get yours now! Choose your NICU grad's Then & Now photos and secure a special dedication for your NICU grad that you will always cherish. This allows you to celebrate your NICU grad in a unique way and give back, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting NICU families through Hand to Hold®, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit.

1/8 Page Yearbook Ad →

Printed Yearbook Order

The new 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now Yearbook is here! Celebrate your NICU grad with a unique and heartwarming keepsake full of powerful stories, inspiring photos, and hope. Printed copies are now available for pre-order. Order your copy today and help support other NICU families!100% of proceeds go directly toward supporting NICU families through Hand to Hold®, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. For questions, please e-mail photocontest@handtohold.org.

Yearbook Order →

Prizes

Grand Prize Winner (1)

In addition to the 1st place category prizes, the Grand Prize winner will receive:

Featured on the cover of the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now yearbook
An additional $150 VISA gift card for the NICU graduate
2 additional 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now printed yearbooks

1st place in All Youth Categories (High School & Younger) (6)

Featured in the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now yearbook
2 free 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now printed yearbooks
$150 VISA gift card for the NICU graduate
$150 gift card for your child's NICU hospital team to use towards educational resources for their NICU, including free Hand to Hold educational product sampler
$50 gift card for NICU Grad merchandise from the Hand to Hold store
Featured on Huggies® social media during the month of May
Featured on Hand to Hold's social media during the month of May

Runner-up in All Youth Categories (High School & Younger) (6)

Featured in the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now yearbook
1 free 2026 NICU Grad Then & Now printed yearbooks
$100 VISA gift card for the NICU graduate
$75 gift card for your child's NICU hospital team to use towards educational resources for their NICU, including a free Hand to Hold educational product sampler
$25 gift card for NICU Grad merchandise from the Hand to Hold store
Featured on Hand to Hold's social media during the month of May

1st place in the Class of '05 & Earlier: Adult Grads (1)

Featured in the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now yearbook
2 free 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now printed yearbooks
$150 VISA gift card for the NICU graduate
Featured on Hand to Hold's social media during the month of May

Runner-Up in the Class of '05 & Earlier: Adult Grads (1)

Featured in the 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now yearbook
1 free 2025 NICU Grad Then & Now printed yearbook
$100 VISA gift card for the NICU graduate
Featured on Hand to Hold's social media during the month of May

About Hand to Hold®

Hand to Hold® is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) that is dedicated to providing early intervention mental health support, education and community to parents who have had children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or have experienced the loss of a baby. Hand to Hold is removing barriers for support by growing a hybrid model of in-person and virtual support in service to their mission. Hand to Hold provided 111,402 sessions of support to NICU parents in 2024, and your support will help us reach our goal of 125,000 sessions of support in 2025.

Support is provided in English or Spanish to parents at no cost to families, and all support is designed with the emotional, physical and social needs of the NICU parent in mind. For more information, visit HandToHold.org.

About Huggies®

Huggies® has been a national sponsor of Hand to Hold since 2016. Huggies® sponsorship helps to make all Hand to Hold support free to all NICU families across the U.S. Huggies® has been instrumental in helping Hand to Hold to innovate, scale and grow its impact across the country. As the founding sponsor of Hand to Hold's virtual support groups, mobile app and national NICU conference, Huggies® has helped remove barriers for thousands of NICU parents to receive support, community and educational resources.

For more than 40 years, Huggies® has been helping parents provide love, care and reassurance to their babies. From developing innovative, everyday products for babies to partnering with NICU nurses to develop a special diaper and wipes line for the most fragile babies, Huggies® is dedicated to helping ensure all babies get the care they need to thrive. Huggies® is proud to be the founding sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need in America since 2011. For more information on product offerings or our community efforts, please visit Huggies.com.