The March of Dimes works to improve baby health through research, education, advocacy, and community services. It funds research to study preterm birth causes and preventions, and advocates for programs and policies supporting mothers and babies. Through education, awareness campaigns, and support services, the March of Dimes aims to give all babies a healthy start. Major fundraising events and donations from individuals allow the March of Dimes to carry out its important mission.

1. March of Dimes Giving every baby a healthy start

2. The March of Dimes Mission: is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

3. March of Dimes carries out their mission through research, education, community services and advocacy.

4. The March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats of prematurity, birth defects and low birth weight.

5. HISTORY January 1938- President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. This was a partnership of scientist and volunteers to conquer polio.

6. In the same year Eddie Cantor created a fund-raiser for the National Foundation. He asked the public to send dimes to President Roosevelt, this was called the March of Dimes. This is how the foundation was named.

7. RESEARCH Since 1984, March of Dimes has funded at least 200 grants; totaling 13 million dollars. 1998- invested in a six year Perinatal Epidemiology Research Initiative; totaling more than 5.7 million dollars. This study was to research how stress, infection, genetics and environment may trigger preterm labor.

8. Investments in research by March of Dimes has led to 18 scientists winning the Nobel Peace Prize

9. We have already seen the results of Genetic Research. With funding from March of Dimes scientists have used gene therapy successfully in treating hemophilia and retinitis pigmentosa in the lab. Having results in the lab gets us closer to a cure.

10. EDUCATION Health Fairs Partnerships with WIC and Healthy Start Educational Workshops

11. Education is the first step to prevention November is Prematurity Awareness Month This is a national effort to make the public aware of the growing problem of premature birth. In stores across the country retailers decorate the store in pink and blue and have promotions to raise community awareness of premature births. More then 150 buildings and landmarks were light up with pink and blue lights to show the importance of fighting premature births.

12. Along with education, March of Dimes also provides many services to help in the community. If after giving birth, in a hospital that has partnered with March of Dimes, a premature baby and family will have a NICU Family Support Specialist, who will provide them with a caring voice, educational material and activities. Parents are given photos that show babies firsts.

13. Another service provided was after the hurricanes in 2005 in the Gulf Coast, volunteers and staff provided emergency care, clothing, dippers, formula and vitamins to babies and mothers displaced from their homes. March of Dimes now has a Hurricane Assistance Fund , including 4 mobile health centers that will bring prenatal and well baby visits directly to families.

14. The use of the internet is very helpful too The March of Dimes web page has a lot of information and links to reliable sources for parents and soon-to- be parents to help educate them on how to have a healthy full term baby.

15. FUNDING- 2006 March for Babies- $110.4 million (Walk America) Special Events- $43.6 million Bikers for babies, jail & bail & light a little star Donations- $45.6 million Mothers March- $20 million Grants (major gifts) - $21.1 million

16. According to Mona Lee at the Tampa March of Dimes office, 77% of the funding goes back to the program.

17. ADVOCACY Volunteers and staff lobby legislators in the U.S. government to support budgets, programs and services that are vital to mom’s and babies. One area of success in 2006 was an increase in the screening of newborns for disorders that could be life threatening. “ Expanded newborn screening is extremely vital, if you catch just one child, what a world of difference it makes.” says Deb Lee Gould, director, Fatty Oxidation Disorders Family Support Group.

18. What makes March of Dimes? The partnership between volunteers, researchers and staff makes the March of Dimes work. With the help from the American people, the March of Dimes has saved the lives of millions of babies over the past 64 years.

19. SOME THING TO THINK ABOUT in Florida on an average week: 4,193 babies are born 450 babies are born to mother age 15-19 374 babies are born to mother who receive inadequate prenatal care 563 babies are born preterm 358 babies are born with low birth weight 31 babies die before their 1 st birthday

20. With all of the work that the volunteers, researchers and staff of March of Dimes does we can hope that the number of babies born with low birth weights, fixable medical problems and even death will become less as the years go by.