WHAT/Mayor John Hickenlooper will proclaim November to be Prematurity Awareness Month at a ceremony on Thursday, November 18. Flanked by eight pregnant women, he will deliver his own remarks about prematurity and then read the official proclamation granted by the City and County of Denver. The eight women symbolize the fact that one in eight Colorado babies is born prematurely. The local moms-to-be are diverse in terms of race, age and national origin. But all share a common goal--a healthy start for their babies--and will display their unity by dressing in pink and blue for the ceremony.

WHEN/Thursday, November 18, 2004 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE/Sterne-Elder Room Russell Pavilion, Second Floor Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital 1900 Lafayette Street

WHY/To help grow awareness of what's been termed the #1 threat to infant health in Colorado and nationwide: prematurity (when a baby is born too soon--three or more weeks early). Prematurity is considered to be such a threat because it's:

**On the rise (having increased 29% since 1981).

**The leading cause of newborn death.

**A major contributor to lifelong disability for babies who survive.

**Not well understood (more than half the time, its causes aren't known).

**Expensive (the national annual cost of healthcare for preemie babies has been estimated at $13.6 billion).

Almost half a million U.S. babies are born prematurely each year, including over 8000 in Colorado. Despite its problematic nature, only 36% of Coloradans in a recent Gallup survey identified prematurity as a "very" or "extremely" serious problem.

The goal of Prematurity Awareness Month is to encourage Coloradans to learn more about the issue, including the signs of preterm labor. Free information is available by calling the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011 or visiting http://www.marchofdimes.com/.

Prematurity Awareness Month is part of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign. Launched in 2003, this public health initiative seeks to lessen the premature birth rate and grow awareness. Over five years, the March of Dimes will invest $75 million in research and education nationwide to address prematurity.

Exempla Healthcare is a local supporter of the Prematurity Campaign. Exempla Healthcare is a not-for-profit, community-based health care system that manages two of Denver's most respected hospitals, Exempla Lutheran Medical Center and Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital. Exempla is sponsored by the LMC Community Foundation and the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, and is dedicated to fostering healing and health to the people and communities it serves. In the fall of 2004, Exempla will open a third hospital, Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, in Lafayette.

Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of babies. Currently in Colorado, the March of Dimes funds $1.5 million in research and community service grants, plus operates its own healthy-baby programs.

WHO/Those speaking at the press conference will be:

**Honorable John Hickenlooper/Mayor of Denver

**Leslie D. Hirsch/President and Chief Executive Officer, Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital

**Shelly Goodchild/State Director, March of Dimes Colorado Chapter

Also available for interviews, video and photographs will be:

**Michael Schneider/MD OB/GYN, Center for Perinatal Medicine at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital

**Kim Speelman/Mother of preemie twins Kiley and Kooper (born 14 weeks too soon), and March of Dimes Ambassador Mom