Feature Articles: Road To Success

J.L. Childress Co. was started 30 years ago by Jan Childress. Today, Childress’ daughters Kate Doti and Sarah Gray are continuing to grow their mother’s legacy. “Jan’s needs as a working mom who wanted to breastfeed her daughters for as long as possible were the inspiration behind J.L. Childress’ first products,” Doti recounts. Childress first designed the Express Bag, which is a tote bag to carry breast pumps and the DuffleCOOL, an insulated bag with a reusable ice pack. J.L. Childress has grown to now celebrate 30 years and a position as a leader in gear accessories both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Over thirty years ago, Becky Cannon asked herself how she could provide natural care both inside and out for her future family. She spent the next three years studying and teaching young children about natural foods in Japan. There she had her daughter Emi. After moving back to the States and preparing for the birth of her second daughter, Mari, she missed the unique baby products she discovered in Japan. Soon, Cannon started importing diaper covers from Japan to make them available for other parents. Today, Cannon and her daughters are the mother-daughter owners of i play.^®, as they continue to focus on creating the best baby-friendly products.

Over thirty years ago, seven university students graduated and vowed to develop a company that would make a positive contribution to society. One graduate, Vitool Virapornsavan, was both an architect and the future founder of Plan Creations Co., Ltd. Since Plan Creations began, PlanToys has created innovative playthings for kids produced to meet the highest quality, safety and environmental standards. Today, the company employs over 1000 people, operates two subsidiary businesses, and is the first company in the world to manufacture toys from reclaimed rubber wood.

For observant Christian families, religious education is usually high on the list of priorities, and most know that education shouldn’t end in the pew or the parochial school classroom. Children learn important lessons about spirituality at home, with their parents and other family members as mentors. They can also learn through creative play and entertainment. Wee Believers, an Illinois-based company, is dedicated to teaching Roman Catholic tradition and values to the next generation, with the help of creative and engaging toys and games. Founders Joni and Steve Abdalla started Wee Believers because they felt that toys with a deeper spiritual message could fill an important need for faithful families.