Los Angeles, CA - (June 30, 2009) – More than 400 guests joined March of Dimes at the 11th Annual Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures gala, sponsored by Farmers Insurance, at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 26. The event honors prominent individuals who have significantly impacted the African American community and raises awareness of the plight of premature birth.

March of Dimes honored three individuals for their work in the African American community - Lloyd B. Greg, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, J. Melvin Muse, Chairman & CCO Muse Communications Inc., and Pamela Wiley-Wells, Ph.D., F-ASHA, President Los Angeles Center for Speech and Language Development.

“This event is a touching tribute to those who work tirelessly to improve the lives of others, “said Healthy Babies Healthy Futures Chair Faye McClure. “We are here to honor these individuals and to raise awareness of the number one threat to the health of African American babies – premature birth.”

Among the many guests was The View’s Sherri Shepherd, who shared her personal story of the premature birth of her son, Jeffrey. Jeffrey was born three months before his due date and spent months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Celebrities joining Shepherd at the event included American Idol Music Director Rickey Minor. Minor produced the musical program, which included a live performance by multiple Grammy Award Winner Deniece Williams and The Whispers. Actresses Vanessa Williams and Camille Winbush and comedian Lewis Dix, Jr. hosted the program.

The Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures event has raised more than $1.5 million to help fund March of Dimes efforts to give every baby a healthy start in life.

Previous Healthy Babies Healthy Futures honorees include: Myrlie Evers-Williams – President & CEO, Mew Assoc., Howard L. Bingham – Internationally Renowned Photojournalist, Dr. Keith Black, MD – Cedars-Sinai, Bettye J. Dixon – Concessions, Inc., Holly Robinson Peete – Actress, Henri R. Ford, MD, Vice President and Chief of Surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Robert C. Davidson. Jr., retired Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Surface Protection Industries (SPI); Chuck Smith, Former President and CEO of AT&T West; Sherin U. Devaskar, MD-Professor of Pediatrics/Neonatology, Executive Vice Chairman, Department of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA; Wilbert W. James, Jr.-President, TABC, Inc. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Sandra J. Evers-Manly-Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Northrop Grumman; Manuel “Manny” Grace-Senior Vice President, Counsel, The Walt Disney Company; John Salley-12 year NBA star and current co-host of “The Best Damn Sports Show Period”, among others.

African-American women have the highest premature birth and infant mortality rates of all racial groups. Almost 55,000 babies are born premature every year in California and nearly half a million across the United States. In California, African-American infants are almost twice as likely as Caucasian infants to be born prematurely; and in the African-American community, 17.6% of all births are preterm, the highest among all ethnicities.  In many cases, the mothers do everything right, but their babies are still born too early. 

For more information contact Sara Hyde, March of Dimes at 415-786-5903 or e-mail to shyde@marchofdimes.com.