March of Dimes WalkAmerica Supporter Wins a 2005 Beetle VW Convertible!

WHAT: March of Dimes supporter Mary Dye of Columbus receives her 2005 Beetle VW Convertible that she won through a WalkAmerica fundraiser.

WHERE: Jim Ellis VW of Chamblee - 5901 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Atlanta, 30341

DATE: Saturday, June 25, 2005

TIME: 2pm

ATLANTA, GA – Since January of this year, thousands of March of Dimes supporters across Georgia have been purchasing tickets for a chance to win a 2005 Beetle VW Convertible. Mary Dye of Columbus took that chance and is now the proud owner of one of the world’s most recognizable automobiles. This Saturday, Mary will come to Jim Ellis of Chamblee to receive her four-wheeled prize.

"The March of Dimes is such a wonderful organization. When I bought my tickets, I was just supporting their mission of saving babies. I never dreamed I would actually win…but I am so glad I did!" says Mary. "When they called me I thought they had the wrong number."

The March of Dimes car give-a-way has been a volunteer favorite for the past nine years. With tickets being sold for $5 each or 6 for $25, the fundraiser brought in an estimated $200,000 for the charity in 2005, with more than 50,000 tickets sold. This is the first year the car has been a Beetle Convertible.

"With WalkAmerica celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year, we thought the Beetle VW Convertible would be a fun way to commemorate 35 great years." says J.T. Fisher, March of Dimes State Board Chairman. "We are delighted with the success of this fundraiser and hope to continue it for years to come."

The country’s oldest walking event, and the March of Dimes largest fund-raiser, WalkAmerica supports research and programs that help fight threats to the health of the 470,000 babies in the U.S. who are born too soon every year. Since its beginning 35 years ago, WalkAmerica has raised more than $1 billion to help give babies a fighting chance and takes place on the last weekend in April in nearly 1,500 locations across the nation.

WalkAmerica State Sponsors are Delta Air Lines and Publix Super Markets. Special thanks to Jim Ellis VW of Chamblee.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.

For more information about WalkAmerica, contact Sealy Johnson at 404-350-9800 ext. 220 or sjohnson@marchofdimes.com.

Media Contact: Brittney Gray, Director of Communications, 404-350-9800 ext. 224 or

bgray@marchofdimes.com

*Photos of winner and car available upon request.

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