Stephanie, Hamilton Ink PR, (415) 381-8198, steph@hamiltoninkpr.com

March of Dimes kicks off nationwide fundraiser that helps babies have healthy births– San Francisco event April 28^th at Fort Mason Great Meadow

Hundreds of families, business leaders, individuals, and co-workers will join together in the annual March of Dimes MARCH FOR BABIES —the nation’s oldest fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. March for Babies is the longest-running and most widely recognized walking event in the nation, generating more than $1.5 billion for the organization over its 42-year history.  March for Babies San Francisco event raised more than $750,000 last year.  The 2012 San Francisco event is chaired by United Airlines’ Managing Director (SF Hub) Ralf Ruckelshausen who has come on board to help support the critically important work of the March of Dimes. MARCH FOR BABIES takes place SATURDAY, APRIL 28th at the Great Meadow at Fort Mason and will include a 6 mile walk followed by a fun-filled day of festivities. Bay Area residents can sign up at www.marchforbabies.org and start a team with co-workers, family or friends. For information call (415) 788-2202.  

Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today. In one year in California 526,774 babies are born and 53,081 of them are born prematurely. The March of Dimes funds scientific research grants with the goal of determining the causes of and improving treatments for premature birth, birth defects, and development disorders. California receives more March of Dimes research grant funding than any other state. They currently have 63 research grants totaling over $12 million active in California supporting the research of scientists in California’s most prestigious research centers including:  California Institute of Technology; The Salk Institute; Stanford University; UC Berkeley; UCLA; UC San Diego; UCSF and USC.   

MARCH OF DIMES Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University – In March 2011, the March of Dimes and Stanford University launched the nation’s first trans disciplinary Research Center dedicated to identifying the causes of premature birth. The Center will bring together specialists in disciplines ranging from neonatology and genetics to computer science and artificial intelligence. This unique team will be the first of its kind to investigate the causes of prematurity. In addition to its existing research grant funding, March of Dimes has contributed $2 million toward the launch of the Prematurity Research Center and will provide support for the project through 2020.    Each year MARCH FOR BABIES announces an Ambassador Family from the region. This year’s San Francisco Ambassador Family is the Tshionyi family.  The family has experienced multiple premature births and its effects through three pregnancies. Daughter Tatum was born 8 weeks early and rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth and mother and baby did not see one other until 12 hours later. A second child was born at only 20 weeks and did not survive but the Tshionyis’ third daughter, born 5 weeks early, is now a healthy happy 2 year old who loves her older sister.  The Tshionyi family is supporting March for Babies to help raise awareness and funding for the organization’s efforts to make a difference in the lives of mothers and babies.  

About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. March of Dimes was created in 1937 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt who suffered from polio as a child. Early research led to the groundbreaking discovery of the Salk vaccine.  March of Dimes continues to fund critical research to improve the health of babies. Their funding has led to the development of vaccines, the PKU test, fetal alcohol syndrome, fetal surgery and exploration of gene therapy.   It’s safe to say that every baby born benefits from research funded by the March of Dimes over the past 65 years.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com/ca or nacersano.org.

A .pdf version of this release.