WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 18, 2010 -- Four leaders in the world of business and finance have been elected to the national Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes Foundation.

          Aleem Gillani, H. Edward Hanway, William R. Harker and Kirk Perry, were elected at today’s Board meeting. March of Dimes trustees, who serve as volunteers, represent the public in governing the organization and advancing its mission, and serve five-year terms.

          “We’re so pleased these dedicated volunteers have joined our effort to give America’s babies a healthy start in life,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, PhD, president of the March of Dimes. “We rely on volunteers such as Aleem Gillani, H. Edward Hanway, William R. Harker and Kirk Perry to share their marketing and business savvy and community-based experience to advance the March of Dimes mission.”

          Mr. Gillani, a certified management accountant, is treasurer of SunTrust Banks, Inc. He oversees the company's capital management, asset/liability management, funding and liquidity management, investment portfolio management and rating agency relations units. Prior to joining SunTrust in 2007, Mr. Gillani served as chief market risk officer at PNC Financial Services Group for three years, and in similar roles at BankBoston and FleetBoston for eight years.  He holds a bachelor's degree from York University in Toronto and completed Harvard Business School’s advanced management program. He has served on the board of directors for the Risk Management Association and as chairman of its Market Risk Council. He lives with his family in Georgia.

          Mr. Hanway is a member of Marsh & McLennan Companies board. He retired as chairman and chief executive officer of CIGNA Corporation in December 2009. Prior to that, he served as president of CIGNA HealthCare, the national health care sponsor of the March of Dimes March for Babies for the past sixteen years.   

         Mr. Hanway is a strong proponent of national quality standards for health care providers. He has made eliminating racial disparities in preterm birth rates part of Cigna’s mission statement and is an outspoken supporter of Cigna’s involvement in the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign. Mr. Hanway is one of Pennsylvania’s top March for Babies participants, and his personal involvement helps build Cigna’s March for Babies team spirit. He received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University of Maryland and his masters in Business Administration from Widener University in Chester, PA. He is active in corporate and civic affairs, serving on the board of Loyola University of Maryland and previously on the board of the Coalition for Affordable Quality Healthcare.  Mr. Hanway and his wife Ellen live in Pennsylvania.  They have three children.

          Mr. Perry is vice president and general manager of Procter & Gamble’s North American  business. He has served as division chairman for the Cincinnati/N. Kentucky Division of the March of Dimes from 2006-2008, and has been a board member since 2009.. Three of Mr. Perry’s four children were born prematurely and he has shared his professional and personal talents to help the March of Dimes achieve record fundraising and program accomplishments.  Mr. Perry also turned his hobby for running into a fundraising opportunity. He ran the 2008 Boston Marathon in 3 hours, 17 minutes and raised more than $7,500 for the March of Dimes.

          Mr. Perry graduated summa cum laude, from the College of Business at the University of Cincinnati (UC). He serves as a trustee for the UC Foundation, and is a member of the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Committee. He lives with his wife and four children in Cincinnati, Ohio.

         During his time with Sears Holdings, Mr. Harker has served in a number of roles including leading the company’s legal, human resources, corporate communications, internal audit and government affairs functions.  Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation, is the March of Dimes’ largest and oldest corporate March for Babies partner. In 2010, Kmart raised an unprecedented $10 million for March for Babies, bringing its 27-year total to $90 million.

         Mr. Harker is a member of the New York State Bar. Mr. Harker went to Washington & Lee University and received his bachelors from West Virginia University where he graduated magna cum laude. He revived his Juris Doctor degree and graduated cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Mr. Harker serves on the board of Sears Canada and is a member of its Human Resources and Compensation Committee and chairs its Investment Committee. He is a member of the board of the American Benefits Council. Mr. Harker currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and daughter.

         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 marchodimes.com or nacersano.org.

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