At the reception, March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse shared startling statistics showing that nearly 13 million infants were born preterm worldwide in 2005 and more than a million infants die each year from their early birth.  And in Florida, 36,612 were born premature in 2006.  That’s 1 in 7 of Florida’s babies born too soon each year.

 “As a business leader, this campaign gives me a unique opportunity to help the community that I love.  And as a father, I can’t think of a more important cause than our babies,” said Coble, who will be visiting local businesses and company executives in the coming months to request their support. “One in 7 of our babies here in Jacksonville are born premature, and that’s just not acceptable.  Our goal is that every one of our babies is born healthy.  It can be a reality, but it takes leaders in our community working together to make it happen.”

“We’re so excited to have Scott Coble on board to help us at a local level,” said Debbie Dawson, March of Dimes Florida Chapter State Director. “His passion for the cause and commitment to helping our babies will be a huge driving factor in the success of our event next year.  We are grateful for the time and support he’s able to lend us.”

Scott Coble, who is the North Florida Regional President for Wachovia Bank, knows how important the March of Dimes mission is.  As a father, he took on the role to raise awareness and important funding to help babies who are born premature or with birth defects. Coble has pledged, along with his committee, to raise $235,000 in new revenue for the First Coast March for Babies.

Sign up for March for Babies at www.marchforbabies.org/kickoff2010 and start a team with co-workers, family or friends.