Frankfort, March 3, 2003---Citing the dramatic rise in the number of babies born prematurely in this country, the March of Dimes today launched its $75 million, five-year national campaign in Kentucky. The campaign’s goals will be to increase awareness of the growing problem and decrease the rate of premature birth. In 2001, more than 476,000 babies, or nearly 12 percent of live births, were born too soon -- before 37 completed weeks – in the U.S.

 In 2000, 12.7% of infants were born preterm in Kentucky.  Between 1991 and 2000, the percentage of all babies born preterm increased more than 14%.  Kentucky has the 39th worst prematurity rate of the 50 states and District of Columbia.

At the Frankfort launch, March of Dimes Senior Research Associate Karla Damus, RN, Ph.D. explained how the March of Dimes campaign will invest $75 million over the next five years and will raise new funds to support research into the causes and treatment of prematurity. The campaign will also advocate for an increase of $10 million annually in federally funded research into the causes of prematurity. 

 The Honorary Prematurity Campaign Chair for Kentucky, Dr. Steve Davis, Director of the Division of Adult & Child Health at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, says, “It is vital for the future well-being of babies in our community that we take action about the problem of premature birth now. The economic and emotional costs are too high to overlook. I am honored to be asked by the March of Dimes to lead Kentucky in the Prematurity Campaign."

Judi Petty, United States Census Bureau Chief and Chair of the March of Dimes Greater Kentucky Chapter Board of Directors issued this call to action, “ it is only through the hard work of our dedicated volunteers that this campaign will be successful.  We need America’s help to reach our $75 million goal.  By participating in fundraising event like WalkAmerica we can support the scientific research necessary to find the causes of preterm birth…because for the 1280 babies born too soon each day in this country, the answers can’t come soon enough.”
 
The statewide launch was held at the Capitol Annex in Frankfort and was attended by many of Kentucky’s state elected officials and March of Dimes volunteers from across the state.

Partnering with the March of Dimes in this effort are the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
 
Also joining the campaign are corporate sponsors CIGNA, FedEx and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute.  Media sponsors include Meredith Publishing’s American Baby Group and Working Mother Media.

In addition, more than 25 professional, consumer and government organizations across the U.S. will assist in communicating the March of Dimes educational messages. 

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. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish language Web site at www.nacersano.org, or call 1-888-MODIMES.