| E-MAIL NEWSLETTER | April 2006 |  |
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Dear Friend,
WalkAmerica has come a long way since the first one in 1970. It has grown to involve more than a million people a year in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Our mission has become even more urgent as the number of premature babies born in the U.S. continues to rise. This year, more than half a million babies will be born too early, an increase of 31 percent since 1981. Contributions from walkers like you help the March of Dimes fund research into the causes of premature birth and birth defects and provide programs that help women have healthier pregnancies. Please consider joining us in WalkAmerica, the walk that saves babies. |
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| Dear March of Dimes, | |
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Imagine the fear and anguish of being rushed to the Emergency Room in your 13th week of pregnancy and being told by the doctors that you are experiencing a miscarriage. Imagine the shock and elation when you soon learn that, even with all of the bleeding, your child's heart is still beating inside of you. Imagine this elation being shattered into despair as you are told that, despite the beating heart, you are experiencing an impending miscarriage and will likely lose the baby in the next few days. You are told to "Go home and wait for it to happen." FAITH. HOPE. PRAYER. PERSEVERANCE. DETERMINATION. These are the things that got us through the next 14 weeks of bedrest, doctor's appointments, tests, and medications. Every day as I continued to bleed, we prayed that Grace would stay inside of me. Later, my husband, Mike, and I would learn that my placenta had become over 50% detached from my uterus. Had Grace grown to be a full-term baby, my body would not have been able to provide her with the nutrients needed to sustain her life. God knew EXACTLY what He was doing when He gave her the strength to fight through the intense medications I was being given to stop my contractions. At 5:01 am on September 26th ...
This story has been used with permission of the author, and originally
appeared on the March of Dimes shareyourstory.org
Web site, where people can share stories, participate in online
discussions about premature and sick babies, and meet other NICU
families. We invite you to join us there. |
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There's nothing quite like taking a nice long walk with a million
or so friends and family. Why not register
now for WalkAmerica® 2006?
By walking and raising money, you'll join people who are committed to the fight against premature birth. No one knows why many premature births happen; it can happen
to anyone. On April 2, 1996, Dr. Jesus Jaile-Marti, a neonatologist
who cares for sick and premature babies, received an urgent
call while doing his rounds. His wife, only 26 weeks pregnant,
went into preterm labor and was about to give birth to their fourth
child. Not long afterwards, their son, Francisco, was born at
1 lb., 7 oz. To register or make a donation, visit walkamerica.org.
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The new National Director talks about WalkAmerica® and her mission.
MIRACLES: What is WalkAmerica? PIZZUTO: WalkAmerica was the first walking fundraising event in the nation. Now 36 years old, it brings out about a million walkers from companies, schools and families who raise money for the March of Dimes by getting donations. With our online fundraising tool, walkers are able to register online, create a personal Web page and send e-mails to their friends and family asking for WalkAmerica donations, which can now be made with a credit card or through PayPal. MIRACLES: What are your responsibilities as the new National Director of Revenue Management, which includes the WalkAmerica campaign? PIZZUTO: My responsibilities include managing the overall execution of the WalkAmerica campaign. Growing the WalkAmerica event both in terms of walkers and revenue is a goal. We also want to ensure that walkers experience a fun and exciting day, while learning more about the mission of the March of Dimes, which is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It's really important that walkers know why they're walking. We also focus on our corporate partners and Family Teams. Family Teams are a new part of WalkAmerica. MIRACLES: What are Family Teams? PIZZUTO: Family Teams have added a whole new dimension to WalkAmerica. Families who are directly affected by our mission are now participating by creating a team of ... Read more of Miracles' talk with Carolyn Pizzuto. |
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Birth Defects: Eight Million Annually Worldwide A Comprehensive Global Analysis Identifies Trends and Interventions Every year an estimated 8 million children -- about 6 percent of total births worldwide -- are born with a serious birth defect of genetic or partially genetic origin, according to a new global report from the March of Dimes. Additionally, hundreds of thousands more are born with serious birth defects of post-conception origin due to maternal exposure to environmental agents, such as alcohol, rubella, and syphilis, says the "March of Dimes Global Report on Birth Defects: The Hidden Toll of Dying and Disabled Children." The report reveals that at least 3.3 million children less than 5 years of age die annually because of serious birth defects, defined as any serious abnormality of structure or function. An estimated 3.2 million of those who survive may be mentally and physically disabled for life. Birth defects are a global problem, but their impact is particularly severe in middle- and low-income countries where more than 94 percent of ...
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| IVILLAGE PREGNANCY & BABY PLUS | |
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iVillage is proud to be a March of Dimes WalkAmerica sponsor and invites you to visit Pregnancy & Baby Plus at www.ivillage.com/pbplus. Pregnancy & Baby Plus has all the information new moms need to answer all of their questions, including: online how-to videos, essential guides and a week-by-week calendar for your pregnancy and baby's first year. Plus, your own photo journal to capture memories and milestones and product recalls that help keep your family safe. This and more is personalized to you and all online. Whether you're pregnant, a new mom, or know someone who is, Pregnancy and Baby Plus is perfect for you and makes a great gift! In honor of Mother's Day, iVillage will proudly donate to the March of Dimes $1 for every Pregnancy & Baby Plus subscription sold during the month of May. Get it now or give as a gift at www.ivillage.com/pbplus, The Best Place to Be a Mom™. |
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| MAKING LOTS OF CENTS | |
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Help prevent premature birth by donating your spare change to the March of Dimes. It’s as easy as a visit to your local grocery store. There are 10,000 Coinstar® centers in grocery stores nationwide, and nearly all of them accept donations for the March of Dimes. Just select the “Donate Your Change” option on the machine and enter the code 1230. To find the nearest Coinstar® center, visit www.coinstar.com For more information about the March of Dimes partnership with Coinstar®, and for fundraising tips, visit the Activities section of the March of Dimes Team Youth Web site. |
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Happy Spring to you. Thank you and be
well, Our Mission: To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance. |
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This online e-mail is sponsored by the March of Dimes, a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Visit marchofdimes.com to read more. Share your comments, suggestions and feedback on this newsletter by e-mailing newsletter@marchofdimes.com. This newsletter is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. © March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 2006 |
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| ANNUAL FUND 2006 | ||
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PLEASE SUPPORT THE MARCH OF DIMES TODAY...  ... with a secure online donation.
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| Youth Leadership | ||
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The Jr. President’s Society is a way we
recognize young people who have contributed at least $250 to the
March of Dimes in one year, or who have had $250 contributed on
their behalf. That’s $21 a month. Any youth from 1 day old
to 23 years old can become a Jr. President’s Society member
through an online
donation form. (NOTE: you must be 13 years or older to use
the online form, and parental permission is needed for donations
made on behalf of minors).
Call the March of Dimes at (800) 742-4657 to find out more about how you, your child, grandchild, or young friend can become a member!
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| An Exclusive Offer ... | ||
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 Purchase a pair of Dr. Scholl’s Vista or Express Walker sneakers, and Famous Footwear together with Dr. Scholl's® will donate $1 to the March of Dimes, up to $40,000. Purchase
now through June 1st, 2006 and receive a 10% discount.
Include promotion code 0406MOD3 at checkout or click
here for a coupon and redeem at a local Famous Footwear
store. |
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| A Great Gift for Mom | ||
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Department 56 is continuing its partnership with the March of Dimes by offering this Limited 2006 Production Snowbabies™ ornament. Introduced in December 2005, "Love Is A Baby" will be available for a limited time before it is officially discontinued in December 2006. For each one sold, Department 56 is donating $1.00 to the March of Dimes. If you would like to give "Love Is A Baby" to someone and help support the March of Dimes, simply visit www.department56.com or call 1-800-LIT-TOWN to find the nearest retailer.
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