Community Activist and Advocate, Corinne Cannon '99, '03, Featured Sower's Seed Speaker, Thursday, October 20, 10:30 am

Be inspired by Trinity graduate Corinne Cannon, founder and executive director of the DC Diaper Bank, a CNN Hometown Hero, and a passionate advocate for babies and their families

The Trinity community is invited to be inspired and motivated by Corinne Cannon, founder and executive director of the DC Diaper Bank, who will be the featured Sower’s Seed speaker on Thursday, October 20, at 10:30 am in Social Hall.  The DC Diaper Bank works to strengthen families by providing a reliable supply of free diapers to families in need living in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The DC Diaper Bank provides an average of 75,000 diapers to more than 2,500 families a month. To date the DC Diaper Bank has donated more than three million diapers to families in need. Corinne Cannon earned her undergraduate degree from Trinity’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1999 and earned a master of arts in teaching from Trinity’s School of Education in 2003.

Nonprofit Leader:  Corinne Cannon created the DC Diaper Bank in 2010 because, like many Trinity women, she identified a serious need in her community and focused on addressing the problem. When Cannon’s son was born and she dealt with the stress of motherhood, she grew concerned about mothers who were less fortunate and with fewer resources. She knew there was no magic “Easy” button for raising a child and began searching for ways to help make raising an infant easier for those who lacked support. After research and many phone calls, Cannon learned diapers weren’t covered by food stamps or WIC funds and social service organizations in the Washington, D.C., metro area were in desperate need of diapers. She read about diaper banks in cities across the country and planned to volunteer at a diaper bank in D.C. There was just one problem: She discovered that the closest diaper bank was in Pennsylvania. In 2010, on her son’s birthday, Cannon established the nonprofit DC Diaper Bank.  As demand for diapers grew, so did the DC Diaper Bank and, in fall 2015, the nonprofit doubled the size of its warehouse in fall 2015.

Community Advocate: Cannon testified before the D.C. Council in September 2016, asking the D.C. Council to lift the sales tax on diapers, tampons and pads at the first public hearing Wednesday for legislation that is being promoted across the country.

“What, how and who we tax speaks volumes about what we value as a community and a city,” Cannon said at the hearing, noting that the savings in sales tax could allow families to buy an additional dozen diapers a month. Her testimony was featured in The Washington Post: Read the article and watch the video.

In September 2015, she was named a CNN Hometown Hero:  “Food stamps don’t buy diapers, so one mom found this solution.” Watch CNN’s inspiring profile of Cannon and the positive impact of the DC Diaper Bank.

Cannon was named a Woman of Worth by L’Oreal Paris USA in fall 2014 and was honored at a gala event in New York. She was one of just 10 honorees out of more than 4,000 nominations nationwide.

Corinne Cannon is part of an active Trinity family. Her mother, Dr. Lori Shpunt ’69, is Professor Emerita of English, and taught at Trinity for more than 25 years. Her father, Rick Cannon, has taught at Trinity over the years, and three of her siblings have graduated from Trinity: Molly Cannon ’01, Joe Cannon ’05 and Joseph Cannon ’05.

Sower’s Seed: Inspiring Lives of Service

Established by Kelly Snider Dunn ’64 and her family, the Sowers’ Seed program highlights alumnae and alumni who have incorporated into their lives the traditions of community service and social justice that are central to the Trinity experience and reflect the Catholic tradition that influences Trinity’s mission. These graduates are invited to come to campus to share their stories with Trinity students, in the hope that their stories will inspire new generations to consider community service, either as a volunteer or as a career. Trinity celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Sower’s Seed program in 2015.