“Youth volunteers helped the March of Dimes beat polio, an epidemic disease that used to kill or paralyze thousands of children every year,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.  “Today's youth volunteers serve on national and local March of Dimes advisory boards and raise money for programs that benefit children and their families in their communities.”

The Youth site offers students from elementary school through college a chance to get involved with the March of Dimes and make a difference in the lives of babies nationwide.  Examples of activities by March of Dimes youth volunteers include:  educating their peers about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, raising funds for research that helps saves babies, and lobbying for expanded newborn screening.

Features of the site include:

• access to the new March of Dimes Teen-2-Teen health education videos;
• a new YouthTimes e-newsletter that alerts students to volunteer and leadership opportunities, as well as grants and awards provided by other organizations;
• highlights of outstanding service learning activities across the nation for youth and advisors;
• opportunities to earn community service credits and enhance the resume;
• message boards for youth to communicate with one another across the country. 

Kelly Clarkson, worldwide recording artist and Team Youth Celebrity Ambassador, invites youth to visit marchofdimes.com/youth and join in the campaign to help babies.  With Kelly's support and encouragement, youth volunteers across the country raised nearly $8 million for the March of Dimes in 2005.