Katie Clay’s baby, Mary-Kate Clay, just made it into the Top Five for Baby2Baby’s annual “Baby of the Year” competition, a national fundraiser that supports children and families in need.
“Everybody that we meet, even random people at the store, always say that she looks like a baby doll,” Katie said. “One night, … I saw the competition on Instagram and thought, ‘Why not?’ Then I looked into it and saw it was more of a charity fundraiser than a competition. That made it all the more reason to do it.”
Founded in 2011 and based in Los Angeles, Baby2Baby nonprofit that provides basic necessities: diapers, formula and clothing for children living in poverty across the United States.
“There are almost 14,000 kids in Denton County living in poverty,” Katie said. “The organization even has a local partner in Dallas called Hope Supply Co., which helps provide essentials for babies right here.”
Katie, who has four children, said the cause immediately resonated with her.
“People don’t realize how expensive babies are,” she said. “Diapers are actually the No. 4 cost for families, right after food, rent and utilities. So, it’s a real need.”
Clay is also deeply involved in youth causes.
She serves on the board of the Aubrey Education Foundation, which funds scholarships, reading programs and teacher support initiatives.
“Kids are such a big part of my life,” Katie said. “I think it’s important that [kids] have what they need and that teachers have what they need to help them.”
Katie said the Aubrey community has rallied around Mary-Kate.
“At the Aubrey Peanut Festival, people came up asking how she was doing in the competition,” she said. “It’s been so sweet to feel that support.”
To vote for her, visit babyoftheyear.org/2025/ mary-kate-8ce4.
If Mary-Kate wins, the prize includes $25,000 and a feature in Variety magazine.
Katie already knows what she’d do with the money.
“We’d put most of it into her college fund and donate to the Aubrey Education Foundation to give back to the community that’s been cheering for her,” she said.
For Katie, this experience is about more than cute photos or a competition.
“Raising kids is a massive undertaking—it takes a village,” she said. “If there’s something we can do to help other parents, we should. … It’s our duty as citizens to help people.”
