March 12th, 2013
Marti Goyal grew up in a charitable-minded family and is very active in the Chicago community, donating her time and resources through Urba Baby, the store she opened in 2011.
When Goyal was seeking an organization to raise funds for via the April 7 Shamrock Shuffle, she found exactly what she was looking for in Charles Tillman’s Cornerstone Foundation.
“We always believe in giving back and doing something for the community,” said Goyal, whose store sells baby clothes and products. “We’re always looking for charities where we can give back that are related to children and families because that is the main concept of why I opened the store.”
Goyal is expecting to lead a team of up to 12 runners in the 8K run that starts and finishes in Chicago’s Grant Park. Through Urba Baby, she will match the $45 registration fee for her team members and place logos of companies who donate over $50 on the back of her team’s t-shirts. She’s also planning on soliciting donations from customers and vendors.
Goyal appreciates the charitable work Tillman does through the Cornerstone Foundation and enjoyed speaking with him at one of the organization’s fundraisers.
“He’s a very nice person and very genuine,” Goyal said. “And I know he cares about his family, which is right up our alley because we do too. We love the Bears. We’re a big sports family and we believe in giving back, so it felt like a really good fit. He’s doing such great things.”
A two-time Pro Bowler who has been an integral part of the Bears defense since he joined the team in 2003, Tillman created the Cornerstone Foundation in 2005 to provide children with educational opportunities and resources to excel in the classroom.
After his three-month-old daughter, Tiana, was diagnosed with a rare heart disorder and received a life-saving heart transplant in 2008, Tillman and his wife Jackie changed the foundation’s mission to improving the lives of critically and chronically ill children.
Goyal hopes to raise at least a couple thousand dollars for the Cornerstone Foundation through the Shamrock Shuffle and would like to develop a long-term relationship with the organization.
“If it works out really well I’d love to keep trying to raise money throughout the year,” she said.
“It’s just something that I strongly believe in. I grew up in a family where we always did things like that. My mom was always on the board of directors for different charities, so I’ve always been brought up in a really giving family. That’s really important to me. I have two children of my own, so obviously I care a lot about kids and families and trying to help out as much as I can.”
Goyal does exactly that through Urba Baby, a store she founded in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood (1117 W. Armitage Avenue) in July 2011 after her first son was born. Her idea was to give city parents a place to find all of the baby products they needed while also providing families with community services.
“I felt I just didn’t have the resources that I needed in order to be a parent in the city,” Goyal said. “I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t have a ton of ‘mom’ friends and my husband didn’t have a lot of ‘dad’ friends.”
Goyal opened a second Urba Baby location in the Wicker Park community (1751 W. Division Street) last summer. In addition to selling baby clothes and products, the stores offer free classes, events and workshops involving music, prenatal yoga, prenatal Pilates, infant massage, stroller fitness and story time.
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On The Go Chicago – June 13, 2011
Last Friday I had the opportunity to have a sneak peak of Chicago’s newest baby store, Urba Baby (1117 Armitage). The store is slated to open Tuesday, June 14th, and is a fabulous new resource for urban families! Owner and fellow Chicago parent, Marti Goyal, decided to open Urba Baby after having her son and developing a passion for everything baby. She loved raising her family in Chicago (a girl after my own heart), and wanted to make it easier for other urban families to find all of the baby products they need, while also having access to community services to help them grow and learn.
As Marti walked me around the store, it became obvious that she had hand-picked and tested everything in her store. She’s created a collection of baby and toddler products that are not only stylish, but that make life a bit easier on new parents. From pacifiers that snap shut when they hit the ground (genius) to baby booties that actually stay on a newborn’s feet, she has focused her merchandise on the stuff you need and really works! In addition, most of the items she carries are “green”. She primarily focusses on baby gear, toys and accessories. Although they do carry some clothes, including their adorable Urbababy line of onsies.
Here are a few of the items they carry that I had never seen before and loved:
Urba Baby will also be hosting classes including yoga,pilates, baby sign language and toddler spanish. The Storybook Mom, one of our favorite Chicago storytellers, will be delighting little ones with stories every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. For a more information on their classes and upcoming events, visit Urba Baby’s online calendar.
Welcome to the ‘hood Urba Baby!
For more information on On The Go Chicago visit: www.onthegochicago.com
Life as a new mom means never knowing if you’ll sleep, shower, or peel off your jammies.
Prepare yourself for baby’s more predictable eat-sleep-poop-play schedule at Urba Baby, Lincoln Park’s just-opened shop for infants, toddlers, and parents.
You won’t find cribs, strollers, car seats, or any other biggies, which is refreshing, because you can simply focus on little things that make life easier. Think carriers (Baby K’tan, Ergobaby), books, toys, feeding helpers (Innobaby bottles, Baby Chef cooking systems), and even jewelry that doubles as a teether. Clothing from Kicky Pants, PaigeLauren Baby, and more complement the store’s own line of cotton onesies and toddler and adult tees.
Along with being a great place to pick up a shower gift, Urba Baby is a hub for classes ranging from infant massage to baby sign language.
Surely you can pencil something in.
Urba Baby, 1117 West Armitage Avenue, between Seminary and Clifton Avenues (773-472-2229 or urbababy.com).
Contact: Marti Goyal – Founder & CEO
info@urbababy.com
www.urbababy.com
773.472.BABY (2229)
Urba Baby
1117 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011 URBA BABY, A COMMUNITY BABY STORE OPENS IN LINCOLN PARK
Special opening weekend planned for kids and families Friday, June 17th – Sunday, June 19th
(Lincoln Park – Chicago, IL June 10, 2011) — Urba Baby, establishing itself as a new community baby store, will be joining the Lincoln Park neighborhood by opening its doors on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Integrated with a premier retail experience, the store will also feature a story time break, social experience, and an educational opportunity for families. Urba Baby is a family owned store, where the urban baby and their parents can go to find all the items they need, while enjoying community services to help their new families grow and learn.
Urba Baby carries baby necessities that range from clothing to nursing, and all areas of a child’s day including: learn, play, eat, sleep, and on-the-go. Urba will be offering a variety of classes and workshops including; baby yoga, infant massage, sign language, baby proofing and much more! The store will also host events on-site and around the city by partnering with other local businesses and organizations to help parents connect. Examples of these events include: Dad’s Night Outs and Mom’s Night Out.
Urba Baby invites you to join them for a Grand Opening weekend celebration during Friday June 17, 2011 through Sunday June 19, 2011 at 1117 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614.
Urba will be offering face painting with Chicago Artist Trish Page Friday, June 17 from 1-4pm and Sunday, June 19 from 12-3pm. Sweet Ride Chicago will be stopping by with FREE sweet treats with a purchase at Urba Baby, on Saturday, June 18 from 2-4pm and Sunday, June 19 (Father’s Day) from 1-3pm. Children can enjoy story time with Nili Yelin “The Storybook Mom” on Saturday, June 18 from 3:30-4pm. Many more fun events planned for Urba customers throughout the weekend. Classic Kids will be providing photography throughout our Grand Opening weekend. All photography in the Urba Baby store and on the website of our adorable Urba Baby models was provided by Lisa Johnson, head photographer at Classic Kids Photography, located down the street from Urba Baby at 917 W. Armitage Ave.
Urba Baby and its founder, Marti Goyal, will be featured in the 2nd Edition of CRAVEChicago, “an urban girl’s guide to all that you CRAVE.” Event photographer, Julia Franzonsa, will be taking photographs for the CRAVEChicago spread, as well as photographing events during Urba Baby’s Grand Opening weekend.
Marti Goyal, owner of Urba Baby has a young baby of her own, and is passionate about all things baby. “Chicago is such a diverse and baby friendly city and I am thrilled to find the best of all things baby to offer in such a great neighborhood” said, Goyal.
For more information on Urba Baby please visit www.urbababy.com
Come and join us in redefining the urban baby!
May 2011 – Itzy Ritzy’s Baby Ritzy Rider in Whale Watching Pink is featured in the new movie, ‘The Hangover Part II’!
We are pleased to be partnering with Itzy Ritzy and want to congraulate them on being featured in the movie, “The Hanover Part II” and on the Red Carpet with Angelina Jolie at The Tree of Life LA Premiere. You can find a variety of Itzy Ritzy products at Urba Baby.
About: You are a person of style and as such your children are “Born Into Style™! Just because you become a parent doesn’t mean you lose your coolness. In fact, as a parent, you are still very much aware of fashion, art, style and the world! As such, we created Itzy Ritzy to deliver exceptional and hip baby, toddler, and adult products designed with beauty, style, sophistication, function and fun in mind. And at Itzy Ritzy it is our mission to deliver our darling and unique products with excellence in quality and customer service. Thanks for making Itzy Ritzy a part of your and your loved ones’ lives!
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Itzy Ritzy is all the rage in Hollywood! Celebrities like you love Itzy Ritzy, including these Celebrity Moms and Dads: Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O’Connell, Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Melissa Joan Hart, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Gwen Stefani & Nicole Richie!
You can view all of the Itzy Ritzy products at: www.itzyritzy.com
