The South Carolina March of Dimes has awarded grants in communities across the state to address maternal and child health needs. These grants are one way the March of Dimes pursues its mission of saving babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

Greenwood Genetic Center received $215,000 to fund the South Carolina Birth Defects Program, a comprehensive system of birth defects monitoring and information that builds on the successful neural tube defect (NTD) prevention partnership. The South Carolina March of Dimes has invested more than $1.7 million in this partnership since 1998. The partnership includes case tracking and public and professional health education about the importance of the B vitamin folic acid in preventing these serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. This program has been credited with reducing the rate of NTDs by 60 percent since 1992. Called South Carolina's success story of the decade, it is considered a model prevention program. This grant is given in honor of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, statewide corporate partner for the March of Dimes Premature Birth Campaign.

SC DHEC/Caring For Tomorrow’s Children received $59,000 for printing costs of the Having a Healthy Baby book. This book is distributed to more than 50,000 South Carolina women per year and provides information on having a healthy pregnancy. This grant is given in honor of Wachovia, the number two contributing company to the March of Dimes in 2004.

Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ob/Gyn received $47,500 to support implementation of a specialized clinic at MUSC specifically designed for women at risk for preterm birth with enhanced education and support services. This grant is given in honor of Select Health, a corporate partner for the March of Dimes Premature Birth Campaign.

Palmetto Healthy Start received $40,000 to continue funding of the Prematurity Prevention Partnership that identifies women with premature birth risk factors and implements a plan for each woman to help prevent preterm labor.

Family Connection of South Carolina received $32,500 to fund the "Connecting for Prevention" program that aims to reduce birth defects, unplanned pregnancies, and to promote healthy births among community housing residents. The program has been successfully established in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Anderson, Spartanburg and Florence with March of Dimes funding. This grant is given in honor of Milliken & Company, the number three contributing company to the March of Dimes in 2004.

South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy received $27,500 to reduce teen pregnancy in South Carolina. This program, which started with March of Dimes seed money, has received national awards and is considered a model program for involving local communities in reducing pregnancy among their teens. This grant is given in honor of Publix Super Markets, the number four contributing company to the March of Dimes in 2004.

The Medical University of South Carolina and Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center received $23,500 to fund the continuation of the South Carolina Neonatal Medicine Consortium. The Consortium is teaching best practices for reducing infant mortality across the state. This grant is given in honor of Central Carolina Bank, the number five contributing company to the March of Dimes in 2004.

Appalachia III Public Health District received $20,560 to fund "Smoke-Free Moms for Healthier Babies," a smoking cessation program that will be targeted to all prenatal care providers in Spartanburg County.

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center received $20,000 to continue funding the "Babies and You" and "Comenzando bien" prenatal education programs, serving high-risk pregnant women throughout the Upstate. Babies & You is a National March of Dimes program that has been very successful in the Upstate for several years. "Comenzando bien" is a program for Hispanic women that was added in 2004.

CareSouth Carolina received $19,000 to fund implementation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Women’s Care Management project. This program will educate patients in Darlington County about the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and prenatal wellness.

University of South Carolina Department of Ob/Gyn received $18,090 to increase access and utilization of genetic services and testing for South Carolina Midlands Hispanic community by providing needed interpreter services at appointments and telephone inquiries to USC Ob/Gyn Department and by translating into Spanish patient welcome packets and available genetic services information and education pieces.

The AME Church Ministers’ Wives and Widows Alliance received $18,000 to continue funding part of the AME Strategic Health Plan. The program will raise awareness of infant mortality in the African-American population, provide folic acid education and teach the signs and symptoms of preterm labor. The program also aims to reduce SIDS risk among its 609 congregations (200,000 members) in South Carolina. This grant is given in honor of Palmetto Health, a corporate partner in the March of Dimes Premature Birth Campaign.

Family Health Centers, Inc. in Orangeburg received $17,500 to reduce the risk of preterm birth and pregnancy complications by using expanded health education, care coordination and other needed support services for medically underserved African-American women in Orangeburg, Calhoun, Bamberg and upper Dorchester counties.

Middle Tyger Community Center of Spartanburg County received $15,000 to fund their after-school Adolescent Prenatal Clinic. This grant will provide targeted health education, by a team of health professionals, on the dangers associated with inadequate prenatal care, poor nutrition during pregnancy, signs/symptoms of preterm labor, smoking and other health problems that may put their unborn baby at risk.

Chesterfield County Schools, Robert Smalls Family Center, received $14,000 to fund the "Project TREE"" program for pregnant teens in Chesterfield County. The project facilitates early and continued access to prenatal care, monthly education sessions and home visits. Participants will also learn the signs and symptoms of preterm labor, the importance of prenatal care, fetal growth & development, risky pregnancy behaviors, infant care and parenting education.

Bethel Senior Day Care Center in Gaffney received $13,000 to support improved access to health care and use of MCH programs and services for residents of Cherokee County, especially for women who are high-risk for poor pregnancy outcome and low income. The project will develop and distribute a Community Resource Guide; hold a community forum; and provide education about healthy pregnancy, how to reduce risks for preterm birth, newborn health and infant care.

Allendale County First Steps received $12,000 to fund a partnership of eight community organizations working with women in Allendale County. The program provides prenatal education sessions and home visits to teach women about prenatal health and other important health issues.

Greenville Family Partnership received $12,000 to fund the "Reach Out Program" for pregnant women and women/teens of childbearing age who use alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs in low-income neighborhoods. The project will teach participants about prenatal health, signs and symptoms of preterm labor and the effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through workshops, referrals, handouts and personal follow-up.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority received $9,334 to fund "Stork's Nest," a National March of Dimes Partnership providing prenatal education and incentives for women who are receiving prenatal care.

The South Carolina Perinatal Association received $9,000 to support joint SCPA/March of Dimes education initiatives and sponsorship of the 12th Annual Perinatal Partnership Conference, an event that educates health professionals about maternal and infant health-related issues.

The March of Dimes biggest fund-raiser, WalkAmerica, supports pioneering research and innovative programs that save babies born prematurely or with birth defects. Since its beginning in 1970, WalkAmerica has raised more than one billion dollars to help give babies a fighting chance. This year, WalkAmerica will take place in almost 40 communities in South Carolina. Funds from WalkAmerica make these grants possible.

Last year, the South Carolina March of Dimes invested more than $4.2 million in program services, including research grants and local community services. Through these grants, the March of Dimes is seeking ways to prevent birth defects and infant death, reduce South Carolina’s increasing premature birth rate, increase access to prenatal care and educate men and women about having healthy babies.