Leigh-Anne Lefurge, March of Dimes, (860) 815-9353, llefurge@marchofdimes.com.
Glastonbury, CT, February 07, 2012 —

Mia Byrnes, Director of Operations of Cornerstone Restaurant Group, has been named Chair of the 2012 Greater Mystic March for Babies, the March of Dimes largest annual event.  Byrnes will lead a $105,000 fundraising effort throughout Greater Mystic in support of the March of Dimes mission to give every baby a stronger, healthier start.  

“I look forward to supporting such a great, worthwhile organization and promoting the mission and importance of the March of Dimes to other colleagues, friends and acquaintances,” said Byrnes. 

Among her professional accomplishments, Byrnes has served as General Manager for China Grill Restaurant at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.  A New York native, in 2001 she found herself moving back east to Connecticut where she became the General Manager for Cornerstone Restaurant Group, which opened Michael Jordan’s Steak House.  Michael Jordan’s 23.sportcafe at Mohegan Sun soon followed.  She has since led the opening of a third Michael Jordan Restaurant at Mohegan Sun, SolToro Tequila Grill and in March 2009 assisted with the development and led the opening of Zylo, an Italian restaurant at the trendy W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ.    Byrnes was honored as Employer of the Year in December 2006 by the Mystic Chamber of Commerce.    

“Mia is not only a well respected and brilliant businessperson in Southeast Connecticut, but she has a heart of gold too,” said Marc Spencer, Community Director, March of Dimes Connecticut Chapter. “We are honored to have her supporting the mission of the March of Dimes.”

March for Babies is the March of Dimes largest annual fundraiser nationwide, raising $2 billion since its start in 1970.  Funds raised helps moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies, funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten babies’ lives, and provides comfort to families who have a baby in neonatal intensive care.  

Greater Mystic March for Babies will take place on Sunday, April 29 at its new location at Olde Mistick Village.  Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m.  To start a walk team with co-workers, family or friends, please visit www.marchofdimes.com/ct or www.marchforbabies.org for easy online registration. 

March for Babies is proudly sponsored locally by Mohegan Sun, Bob’s Discount Furniture, CCR Wealth Management, Soft Rock 106.5 WBMW and Jammin 107.7.  The March of Dimes thanks Connecticut statewide sponsors NBC Connecticut and Comcast.  March for Babies is sponsored nationally by Cigna, Famous Footwear, Farmers, FedEx, First Response, Kmart, Mission Pharmacal, Sanofi Pasteur, United Airlines and Watson Pharmaceuticals.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, 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.