(ST. LOUIS, April 28, 2007) – The 37th annual WalkAmerica in Forest Park raised more than $1 million to support the March of Dimes fight to save babies from premature birth, Michael Neidorff, CEO of Centene Corp. and chair of this year’s WalkAmerica announced today.  St. Louis joins the list of only 15 other cities in achieving the $ 1 million milestone.

 “This record shows what can be accomplished in St. Louis with the help of the many committed people who want to reduce the shocking level of premature births in St. Louis and Missouri,” Neidorff added.  “We’ve demonstrated once again that St. Louisans are a very generous people,” he said.

 Premature birth is the leading killer of babies who die before their first birthday.  More than 10,000 babies are born prematurely in Missouri each year – one in eight births.

 Neidorff noted that WalkAmerica gained $300,000 in corporate sponsorships.  “Companies understand the importance of fighting premature births because of the rising financial costs of this public health crisis,” he said.

 WalkAmerica featured about 6,000 walkers from more than 250 teams formed by company work groups, schools, churches, and families who solicit sponsors for their participation.  The dollars raised at walks in St. Louis and 12 other Missouri cities provide partial funding for the nearly $5 million the March of Dimes invests annually in Missouri for community services, education, research, and advocacy.

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder congratulated the walkers for their dedication and noted that while the cause of half of all pre-term births is unknown, one known cause is smoking during pregnancy.  St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley called the March of Dimes the leading force against premature births in Missouri and the nation.

In 2007, National WalkAmerica Sponsors are CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers, FedEx and Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate partner who has raised more than $55.5 million to save babies.  Additional national sponsorship is provided by Discovery Health, Grain Foods Foundation, Mead Johnson Nutritionals and Outdoor Services. St. Louis sponsors include Centene Corporation, Clear Channel Radio, Emmis Communications, Express Scripts, the St. Louis Business Journal, and Nestlé Purina.

 The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births, and infant mortality. March of Dimes has funded the work of 13 Nobel Prize winners, conquered polio and launched a folic acid education program that has reduced neural tube birth defects by over 27 percent.  For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.  The Missouri Chapter Web site is marchofdimes.com/Missouri.