Atlanta, GA, Jan. 16, 2008—WalkAmerica, the March of Dimes largest fundraising event, which brought in $117 million nationwide last year, has been renamed March for Babies. The new name makes a clear connection to what the March of Dimes is all about – the health of babies.

“The name of our event has changed, but our mission stays the same – working towards the day when every baby is born healthy,” said Mark Gibson, State Director for the March of Dimes, Georgia Chapter. “We hope the new name will bring more people on board to help make that day a reality.”

In Downtown Atlanta, March for Babies will take place on April 26, 2008 at Centennial Olympic Park. Metro Atlanta residents can sign up today to help fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at helping moms have healthy babies. Last year, 10,000 supporters participated in the Downtown event, raising $1.3 million. In the state of Georgia, funds raised by March for Babies supports community grants, education, advocacy and NICU Family Support Programs.

The March of Dimes will host its annual Downtown Atlanta Kickoff luncheon for March for Babies 2008 in the International Ballroom at the Omni Hotel on January 31, 2008.  A spirited event designed to get team captains started and provide helpful fundraising tips, this annual luncheon welcomes companies throughout Atlanta.

National Ambassador, five-year-old Catharine Aboulhouda, and her family will speak at the January 31st Kickoff.  Catharine was born 16 weeks early, measuring only 12 inches in length.  Her story represents just one of the more than half a million babies born preterm each year in the United States.  As the National Ambassador, Catharine and her parents, Susan and Mike, will travel the country throughout the coming year to share their story and help raise awareness of the growing crisis of premature birth, which has increased by more than 30 percent in the U.S. since 1981. The March of Dimes National Ambassador Program is an annual campaign, started in 1946, that puts a face on the March of Dimes mission.  Throughout the year, the National Ambassador attends events and conferences, speaks with volunteers, does media interviews and appears with corporate leaders, celebrities and the President of the United States to raise awareness of the March of Dimes.

State Director for Georgia March of Dimes, Mark Gibson, emphasized that the mission priority of the March of Dimes is to fight the growing crisis of prematurity.   “Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and we are committed to reducing its toll,” he said.  “By engaging more people in our mission, and educating more pregnant women and moms about healthy babies, we hope to reach that goal much sooner.

In addition to a new name, March for Babies has a new website. Interested walkers and donors can visit marchforbabies.org or call toll-free 1-800-525-9255 to sign up as an individual, start a corporate, family or friends team, or donate to help babies be born healthy.

The new name of its premier event is part of a larger March of Dimes initiative focused on all babies—those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive. The March of Dimes also has released a new public service advertising campaign, and is offering pregnant women and moms new medical information in new ways that fit their active lifestyle, including email, podcasts, and text messaging.

In 2008, national March for Babies sponsors are CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers, FedEx, Grain Foods Foundation, Liberty Tax Services, nesting.com, and Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate partner which has raised more than $63 million for babies.  Additional national sponsorship is provided by Discovery Health, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Outdoor Services and Ther-Rx. Local Sponsors include: State Sponsor - Publix Super Markets; Presenting Sponsors - Kaiser Permanente and AirTran Airways; Gold Sponsors – UPS and Northside Hospital; Metro Atlanta Media Sponsors – WSB-TV, Star 94, Neighbor Newspapers, Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS Outdoor; Downtown Media Sponsors –WSB-TV, Star 94, Radio One, AJC, Neighbor Newspapers, Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS Outdoor.

For more information about March for Babies, or to register to participate in the Downtown March or other Marches in the Metro Atlanta area on (April 26, 2008), visit marchforbabies.org, call 1-800-525-9255 or get sponsor forms at Kmart or Famous Footwear.