While at the conference, a reception was held at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies to dedicate the building in honor of the March of Dimes, celebrating the partnership of volunteers and scientists for research to save babies and the legacy of Dr. Jonas Salk. The March of Dimes funded Dr. Salk's quest for a vaccine against polio (marking its 50th anniversary this year) and later provided the funding that enabled Dr. Salk to fulfill his vision to create a basic research institute unlike any other.

Additionally, several Florida Chapter volunteers and corporations where honored including Dee Jay Hellrung with the Distinguished Volunteer Award for the Southern Region, Rob Davis with the President’s Award for Volunteer Excellence, Albert Fils as the #2 WalkAmerica Individual, and Publix Super Markets as the #3 WalkAmerica Team.

Dee Jay Hellrung, Distinguished Volunteer Award/Southern Region
Dee Jay Hellrung was awarded with a Distinguished Volunteer Award for the Southern Region.  This award recognizes individuals whose excellence, creativity, and leadership have made a major contribution toward saving babies in their region of the country.

Dee Jay is a retired nurse practitioner and has been a March of Dimes volunteer for 9 years.  She currently serves as the Southern Region Public Affairs representative to the March of Dimes National Office of Volunteers and is the Co-Chairperson of Florida Chapter Public Affairs Committee.  Dee Jay is a real voice for mothers and babies whose needs might otherwise go unheard.  She’s won the respect of all that work with her including fellow volunteers, staff, and elected officials.

Her colleagues describe her as “the most dynamic, energetic, and motivational person we have ever had to lead our public affairs initiatives.”  And it’s no surprise that she accomplished her legislative goals in newborn screening expansion and protecting benefits of women below poverty level while serving as a WalkAmerica team captain and assisting with numerous other special events!

Rob Davis, President’s Award for Volunteer Excellence
This past July, over 350 young volunteers from all over the country gather in Washington D.C. for the national Youth Leadership Conference.  These young volunteers were invited for a productive and energetic few days to celebrate the 50th anniversary of youth involvement in the March of Dimes and plan for the future.  As the National Youth Council Chair, Rob Davis attended to every detail of the conference and is the reason the conference was so successful.

Rob has volunteered for the March of Dimes since high school.  He chaired the Marion County Chain Reaction as well as the March of Dimes Collegiate Council at the University of Florida.  And he's been instrumental overall in developing North Central Florida's youth program.  Rob has freely shared his own prematurity story in speaking for the March of Dime, and stressed the importance of the work yet to be done to save babies from premature birth.  It's not surprising that Rob has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year by both the North Central Florida Division and Marion County.

Albert Fils is the #2 WalkAmerica Individual
Listen to this amazing record!  In the past 10 years, Albert Fils has raised almost $200,000 for the March of Dimes mission.  Today, he’s #2 Walker in the country – a move up from 53rd place in 2003 - and the #1 Walker in Florida.  Now that’s what I call a giant leap for mankind and babies!  This year he raised $85,025!  Albert serves on the Board of the Broward Division.  Outside the March of Dimes he’s a Senior VP of Wachovia Bank – one of our Top Corporate Partners.

Publix Super Markets is the #3 WalkAmerica Team
Every year Publix keeps making more incredible strides in WalkAmerica!  They added a third week to their in-store fund-raising campaign, and reached a record high of more than $2.4 million in sneaker sales.  Add that to the more than $465,000 raised by 4,605 walkers (400 more than 2004), and Publix turned in a total $2.9 million – a 38.5% increase over 2004.  Publix is the #3 Team in the country and the #1 Team in Florida.

The Florida Chapter would like to recognize these achievements in and thank our fabulous volunteers for their outstanding efforts!