Elizabeth Lynch, March of Dimes, (914) 997-4286, elynch@marchofdimes.com
Todd Dezen, March of Dimes, (914) 997-4608, tdezen@marchofdimes.com
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, APRIL 13, 2011 – March of Dimes nonprofit partner Operation Shower hosted a unique baby shower today for special military families at Camp Lejeune. As part of the day’s events, moms were provided with special “showers in a box” from Operation Shower as well as important health education materials provided by the March of Dimes through its Mission: Healthy Baby program. Among the other special highlights at today’s shower was an exciting surprise visit by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden.
“Having a baby can be challenging even under the best of circumstances, but it can be especially stressful when your husband or partner is deployed by the military,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “The March of Dimes is grateful that Operation Shower has focused on serving these military families and we are pleased to complement this effort through our Mission: Healthy Baby program. Mission: Healthy Baby gives families valuable health education materials about pregnancy and newborn health. It’s also so nice to see these moms get the baby shower they deserve.”
Operation Shower partners with the March of Dimes to provide military moms with distinctive baby showers in recognition of the sacrifices these military moms-to-be make while their husbands are deployed overseas.
“Operation Shower was founded because we know that moms in a military family hold it all together at home – these moms deserve our support, our thanks, our love, and of course, they deserve a party!” says chief shower officer, LeAnn Morrissey. “Operation Shower is honored to continue to work with the March of Dimes to provide military families with much-needed health education and support.”
Very high levels of stress, such as the stress caused by a deployment, may contribute to premature birth or low birthweight in full-term babies, the March of Dimes says. Military moms and dads can request March of Dimes Mission: Healthy Baby materials online by sending their name and address to missionhealthybaby@marchofdimes.com. Special brochures are also available by calling 914-997-4257.
“I’m certain that today’s special shower will inspire Americans across the country to perform outstanding acts of kindness in honor of our military families,” said Neill Clark, chairman of the March of Dimes North Carolina Board of Trustees, speaking at the event. “These military moms-to-be deserve to be recognized and thanked for their sacrifices; I am honored to be involved.”
Operation Shower is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that hosts joyous baby showers for military families to ease the burden of deployment. Since being founded in 2007 Operation Shower has honored more than 400 families and hosted 12 unit-wide showers for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard. For more information, please visit operationshower.org or follow them on Facebook.
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. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
