About Dayton Mothers of Twins Club
The Dayton Mothers of Twins Club (DMOTC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1943 by Ann Franklin. It is the oldest of its kind in the United States and was designed to meet the needs of area mothers of multiples both emotionally and socially. As the club grew, we began to take on the role of a charitable organization as part of our day-to-day activities. We are members of the Ohio Federation of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. Our purpose is to bring together socially the mothers of multiples who are interested in sharing their many joys, challenges, and experiences.
We have a “Support Hotline” available on a variety of topics for anyone that wants to speak to another MoM who has been through a similar situation. We also have a private Facebook group for members only, which you may find is an easy way to connect with other MoMs in our group.
Our Creed
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment, and always generous.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses,
straight forward and unafraid.
Let us take the time for all things;
make us grown calm, serene, and gentle.
Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that create differences;
that in the big things in life we are as one.
And may we strive to touch and to know
the great common woman’s heart of us all.
And, Oh Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.
Philanthropy
In addition to the Dayton Mothers of Twins Club’s mission of supporting the unique needs of moms with multiples, our group votes annually on three charities to which we distribute philanthropic grants. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year the following were chosen:
History of the Club
The Dayton Mothers of Twins Club founder, Ann Franklin, saw a need for support and camaraderie for twin moms in the Dayton area as she raised her twin girls Glenda and Laurel. In 1943, she founded the Dayton Mothers of Twins Club (DMOTC), making it the first and oldest mothers of multiples club in the United States.
DMOTC has thrived helping moms of twins, triplets, and higher order multiples find the support they need while juggling the demands of multiples. We offer education, emotional support, and social interactions for our members, as well as a variety of special events for members and their families.
As DMOTC grew, we also found ourselves taking on the role of a charitable organization. We are proud to give funds to organizations such as Owen’s Place, Brigid’s Path, Shoes 4 the Shoeless, March of Dimes, and many more charities over the years.
Founder, Ann Franklin
Our founder, Ann Franklin, gave birth to beautiful twin girls Glenna and Laurel on May 22, 1942. She soon learned all the joys and struggles that come along with having two babies at the same time. Ann saw the need to have other mothers in her life that could understand all the emotions, tribulations, blessings and successes that come along with being a mother of multiples. She wanted a safe place for moms of twins, triplets, and more to socialize and share with each other, so she made her dream a reality in April of 1943 by starting the Dayton Mothers of Twins club with the help of a local newspaper columnist.
Along with being a mother of twins, Ann had a son Gary in 1944. In her youth, she was an active Girl Scout and a member of the first experimental Senior troop in Dayton. She was her twin daughters’ troop’s leader and worked for the Dayton Girl Scout Council after that troop disbanded. Ann later went to work for the National Girl Scout Office in New York City and spent the last four years of her career in Heidelberg, Germany, as a Training Director and Field Advisor for the North Atlantic Girl Scouts.
Ann also became involved with the Experiment in International Living Program in 1959 and organized a Holiday Hosts program for foreign students at the University of Dayton and other schools. At times, she had been a volunteer for the American Red Cross and a cuddler for newborns. She enjoyed many other things – bridge, the New York Times Crossword Puzzle, kaleidoscopes, and travel.
In May of 2008, at the age of 90, Ann Franklin died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Frankfort, MI.