|
(St. Louis, April 25, 2009) – March for Babies, the March of Dimes annual fundraising walk, raised nearly $1 million to support the organization’s fight for all babies in Missouri and Metro East to be born healthy.
The total is about $70,000 short of goal.
About 8,000 – 9,000 people – comprising hundreds of teams organized by businesses, fraternal organizations, and families followed the 5 kilometer rolling course from the lower Muny parking lot.
“Given the state of the economy, St. Louis has responded generously to the needs of moms and babies, said, 2009 March for Babies Chair Ronald J. Kruszewski, chairman and chief executive officer of Stifel Nicolaus. He noted that corporate sponsorship hit a record $380,000.
Deborah Kersting, executive director of the Greater Missouri March of Dimes noted that the health of moms and babies is too important for the organization to slacken its efforts. March for Babies is actually part of a yearlong campaign. “We’re going to work even harder to meet our goals for the year.
Before the walk began, the memory of Kim Farrar of House Springs was honored. She and her unborn twin girls were killed in a Christmas Eve traffic crash. Her husband, James, led family members in releasing eleven butterflies to commemorate the eleven babies who die each week in Missouri before their first birthday. Kim’s family organized a March for Babies team to raise funds to support healthy babies. The collected more than $24,000 in two months.
The dollars raised at March for Babies in St. Louis and 13 other Missouri and Metro East cities provide some of the funding for the more than $4 million the March of Dimes is investing this year for community services, education, research, and advocacy.
Local sponsors include Stifel Nicolaus, Express Scripts, Farmers, Macy’s, Nestlé Purina, Centene, Emmis Communications, Clear Channel Communications, KMOV-TV, and the St. Louis Business Journal.
National March for Babies sponsors are Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers Insurance Group, FedEx, First Response, Liberty Tax Services and Ther-Rx.
About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. For Missouri news, visit marchofdimes.com/missouri.
|
