The March of Dimes has designated November as Prematurity Awareness Month - to send the alert that premature birth is a crisis in our country and to bring people together to help give all babies their 9 months. 

Babies are in crisis today. Nearly half a million are born prematurely every year and the number is rising. Across Indiana the March of Dimes is organizing events raise awareness as part of its national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care.

Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns and a major cause of serious health problems. It costs society billions of dollars every year. Here in Indiana, more than 10,600 babies are born prematurely each year, about 1 in 8.  Activities across Indianapolis include:

• November 1 – 31, 2005—Buildings in Indianapolis will be lit with Pink and Blue lights to serve as a beacon of hope for all babies.  Buildings to be lit pink and blue include: the Murat Center Tower, Lauth Property Group, Inc., Kiwanis International Headquarters, the Indianapolis Children's Museum and the homes of March of Dimes volunteers throughout the city.  There is also a pink and blue ribbon campaign taking place.  Volunteers will be tying pink and blue ribbons around trees and building columns including the more than 200 trees in Military Park and White River State Park. More info at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6185_15859.asp.
• November 5th—the annual Prematurity Summit will be held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel at the Indianapolis Airport.  The Prematurity Summit brings together leading infant health professionals from across the state to share successes and to strategize the continued fight to save babies’ lives.  More info at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6188_16773.asp.
• November 7th – 31st—Circle K convenience stores will be selling paper pumpkins to raise money to fight prematurity and to give every baby a “Thanksgiving…for the rest of my life.”  More info at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6186_12487.asp.
• November 10th—The Indianapolis Real Estate Awards honoring Bob Lauth will be held at the Murat. More info at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6186_16679.asp.
• On Prematurity Awareness Day®, November 15th, the March of Dimes will hold its Prematurity Roll Call and vigil with hundreds of families and friends of premature babies. The Roll Call will be held at White River State Park at 6pm in front of the NCAA headquarters.  The Prematurity Roll Call is a ceremony of remembrance of those babies lost to prematurity and honor for those who won their fight to survive.  More details at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6186_17313.asp
• November 15th—A March of Dimes Symposium for Nurses will be held at the Hilton Indianapolis North Hotel.  More information at:  http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6186_17313.asp.
• March of Dimes volunteers will conduct an email forwarding campaign on November 15th with prematurity prevention information and where to turn for help.  We hope that the speed of electronic communication will bring a swift rise in those who know about the problem of prematurity and what they can do to prevent it.

In November, visit marchofdimes.com/pad and find out what you can do for pink and blue to help prevent premature birth. You can send a message of hope for premature babies by wearing pink and blue, raising awareness with wristbands, car magnets and ribbons, sending e-mails and letters, and supporting research. Visit marchofdimes.com to help give all babies their 9 months during November – Prematurity Awareness Month – and any time of year.

The March of Dimes Prematurity has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.  American Baby magazine and Working Mother Media are national media sponsors.  More than 46 professional and consumer organizations have become Campaign alliance members, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Hospital Association and the American Public Health Association.

The national Prematurity Campaign Sponsors are CIGNA and FedEx, and Prematurity Awareness Month Sponsors are First Response and Arm & Hammer Oral Care.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth 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.