Through a combination of corporate sponsorship, walker fundraising, vendor campaigns and personal commitments, the March for Babies Leadership Class of 2010 will raise money for March of Dimes research and community programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies to begin healthy lives. 

“We are honored to have these outstanding corporate citizens lead the way,” said John Hadden, Florida Chapter Chair, March of Dimes and Vice President of Quest Diagnostics. “When our leaders publicly stand with a cause they support, they show the whole community the value of volunteer service and community involvement.”

To date, the Florida 2010 March for Babies Leadership Class is comprised of the following dedicated business leaders who have committed to chair March for Babies events in their respective communities: 

Gene Schaefer, Bank of America Market President, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, will again be serving as the Miami-Dade March for Babies Chair.  This is Gene’s second year as Chair.

Keith Costello, CFA, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Broward Bank of Commerce. Keith will be serving as the Broward County March for Babies Chair with Paul Sallarulo, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Nexera Medical as Co-Chair.

Serving as the First Coast (Jacksonville) March for Babies Chair in 2010, Scott Coble is the North Florida Regional President, Executive Vice President, Retail Banking of Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company. 

Jon Gardner, Market President/Consumer Market Executive, Bank of America, North Central Florida will serve as the Alachua 2010 March for Babies Chair.  Jon Gardner is based in Gainesville and manages Bank of America’s consumer banking center network of 34 locations in North Central Florida. 

Marla Silliman, MBA, Senior Vice President, Florida Hospital Administrator, Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children will serve as the Central Florida March for Babies Chair. 

Page W. McKee, Senior Vice President/ General Manager of Hardin Construction Company, LLC, will be serving as the Hillsborough March for Babies Chair.

Shaun Blogg will serve as the Palm Beach County March for Babies chair in 2010.  He is partner-in-charge of the MarcumRachlin's West Palm Beach office.

John Doctor is the Senior Vice President of Operations for Bright House Networks. John has worked in the cable industry for twenty-three years and will be serving as the 2010 Pinellas March for Babies Chair

Serving as the March for Babies 2010 Chair in Ft. Myers and Naples, John J. Iacuone, M.D. is the Executive Director for The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida/Lee Memorial Health System (“TCH”). He is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

As the Marion March for Babies 2010 Chair, Mike Jordan, M.D., is the Executive Director, Marion County Children’s Alliance.

Additional Florida March for Babies Chairs include in Tallahassee, Dr. AJ Brickler with North Florida Women’s Care and Dr. AD Brickler with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital; in Polk County, Greg Chambless with Publix; in Lake Sumter County, Sue Donohue with Publix; in Cocoa Beach, Mitch Garner with Symetrics Industries; in Panama City, Bobby Roberts of Roberts Financial Planning; in Manasota, Angela Clark of Bank of America; in Indian River County, William J Penney of Marine Bank and Trust; in Greater Halifax, Debbie Connors with Port Orange South Daytona Chamber of Commerce; in Putnam County, Woody Boynton, Palatka City Manager and Tom Townsend, Superintendent of Putnam County Schools; in Martin County, Russ Reaver of Publix Super Markets, Inc.; in Suwannee Valley, Terry Huddleston Principal of Columbia High School; in Pasco County, Joe Riggs with Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company; in St. Lucie County, Pat Alley with Riverside National Bank and Anthony Westbury with Scripps Treasure Coast News, and in Okeechobee County Elvie and Rosemary Posey will chair.

The most urgent infant health problem in the United States today is premature birth.  It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. The March of Dimes issued a Report Card on Premature Birth, giving the nation a D and Florida a F.  Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.

The 2010 national March for Babies sponsors are Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, FedEx, and sanofi pasteur.

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. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.