2014 March for Babies - Saturday, April 12th at Norbuck Park at White Rock Lake | 8:45 a.m. - Opening Ceremony | 9 a.m. - March for Babies Kicks Off

Tuesday, May 6, 2014




Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers that have been impacted by premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality.  This holiday is in many ways harder for us than for the “ordinary” mom.  Many of us have been through the fires and the storms of motherhood pretty early in our journeys as moms.             

To mothers of preemies, Mother’s Day carries special meaning because our children came too early like unexpected visitors to our door.  We were just starting to prepare for these little people to enter our lives but we didn’t have the nursery ready, we didn’t have all the supplies we needed, and we had no idea that the hardships of motherhood would come so early on.  I’m sure we all heard stories while we were pregnant about how hard being a mom can be, how toddlers will keep you running and how teenagers might break our hearts.  We knew to be prepared for that but nothing in a pregnancy book could prepare us for the NICU journey we were about to take.  We had no idea that it could be days, weeks, or even months before we could hold our children.  We didn’t know that when our children were the sickest, we couldn’t hold them at all.  We didn’t know that we could not give them their first bath, their first bottle, or many other firsts we would miss with them.  We weren’t prepared for the fact we would need to learn how to feed them from a feeding tube, stimulate them to breathe when they stopped, or that we wouldn’t hear them cry for months in many cases.  Many people tried to reassure me by saying that my daughter would not remember any of this.  However, I remember EVERYTHING.  Mothers like us look into the eyes of those 2, 4, 6 yr olds and we know what great courage and strength it took for those children to be here.  No, Mother’s Day is not the same for us.  We are not “ordinary” moms.

Many of us have a hard time on Mother’s Day because our children are not with us today.  Some people don’t even consider us mothers because our children did not survive.  This day is many times painful for us because we ARE mothers, we DO have children.  Even if we can’t hold them in our arms, we hold them in our hearts forever.  On Mother’s Day, there is great focus on those daughters that have mothers in heaven but little or no mention of those of us with sons and daughters in heaven.  If you know a mom that has lost a child, please give her a special hug on Mother’s Day and let her know how special she is.  We may not be “ordinary” moms but we ARE moms just the same and we love our children dearly. 

For those of us moms that are raising children with special needs, Mother’s Day can be bittersweet.  We celebrate the precious blessings our children are in our lives.  But, we also carry the heavy responsibility of being our child’s advocates at every turn.  We spend countless hours making sure our children have all the therapies they need, counseling and special medical devices they may require.  As one person told me, we are trying desperately to fit our oval shaped children into society’s circle shaped holes.  They look like they should fit perfectly but they have special needs to allow them to be successful in school and in life.  We many times have to question our children’s doctors, teachers, and school districts to be sure our kids are getting all of the services they need to thrive.  The doctors, teachers, and schools may see us coming and think that we are no “ordinary” moms and they are right! 

We have all watched our children struggle to survive and in some cases we’ve seen them lose that fight.  We are no “ordinary” moms.  If this Mother’s Day leaves you feeling all alone in your motherhood journey, please know that we are in this together.  We are EXTRAORDINARY moms and our children in heaven and on earth are our constant motivation for us to do more, love more, and give more.  I am glad to be no “ordinary” mom!  I’m proud to stand arm in arm with mothers like you that have been through some of the toughest days as moms and are still standing! 

Happy Mother’s Day to you EXTRAORDINARY moms out there!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Current Top Three Fundraising Teams

Congrats to our top three online fundraising teams:
1. Comerica 3
2. Baylor BUMC
3. Citi - Las Colinas
 
Keep up the good work!!
 
Don't forget we have a bank day this Friday, April 4 from 8 am to 5 pm at the March of Dimes office located at
12660 Coit Road Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75251
 
You can just park in our convenient visitor parking and then drop off all your teams fundraising money.
 
Also, while you are here, you can donate blood at our Carter Blood Care drive. Sign up for your time slot here:  http://bit.ly/1d7SSvz 

Monday, March 31, 2014

Current Top 3 Walkers

Congrats to our current top three online fundrising walkers:
1. George and Charmaine Tang
2. Amanda McCaffrey
3. Steve Love

Keep up to good work!

If anyone has checks that need to be deposited just ask us for bank slips. You can easily deposit your fundraising checks to Comerica and then we will input the amount from the checks onto you fundraising page!

Don't forget just 13 days until March for Babies!!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Parking Information


Free March for Babies Bus Transportation to Norbuck Park is available from Valley View Mall and the Mockingbird area. 
 

Please check out the map and DART* route information in the right information panel.
*Please note that regular fares apply for DART bus transportation.

March Madness is here!

 

 
Click here to view in browser
March for Babies
Your Bracket is Busted ...
But you can still win! 
·         Walkers who raise $100+ online will be entered to win 2 United Airlines tickets.
·         Team Captains who raise $100+ online and recruit 10 walkers who each raise $25 will receive entry to win an iPad mini. 
Deadline is March 31st. See our Social Media and Recruiting flyer for fundraising tips and tricks. 
Log In Now
HEB Loves Babies
Now through April 1st, look for the March for Babies display and purchase a $1, $3, or $5 coupon at check-out stands in 340 H-E-B and Central Market stores.
Last year through the March of Dimes tear pad campaign, H-E-B raised $310,000 to support March of Dimes March for Babies. To locate or find additional information about a participating store, visit heb.com and enter your ZIP code.
 
 
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Twitter

Thank you to our national sponsors:
 
This electronic message is sponsored by March of Dimes, a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Donations to March of Dimes are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
For more information about the March of Dimes, visit our website at marchofdimes.com.
This email was sent to elavine@marchofdimes.com.
To unsubscribe from Texas chapter emails, simply send us an email here and you will be removed from the Texas mailing list.
To unsubscribe from all March of Dimes correspondence, simply send us an email here and you will be taken off our mailing list.
© 2014 March of Dimes Foundation
March of Dimes 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Bank Day Tomorrow

Don't forget that tomorrow, Friday March 28th is a bank day for March for Babies from 8:00 AM till 2:00 PM at the March of Dimes office

12660 Coit Rd. Suite 200

Dallas, TX 75251

Bring your team’s collected money to our office and we’ll do all the work for you! You can also pick up your team’s incentive t-shirts at this time.

If you cannot make it, we can send you bank slips. Just ask!

Note : Final Collection Day is Friday May 23


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

T-Shirt Contest


Enter your company t-shirt in the March for Babies t-shirt contest!  Please send a sample to the March of Dimes office by Friday, April 4th for your chance to win!
 

Winners will be announced from stage at the March for Babies opening ceremony.
 
You can send entries to klanier@marchofdimes.com

Monday, March 24, 2014

Bank Day Information


Friday March 28th and Friday April 4th from 8:00 AM till 2:00 PM at the March of Dimes office

12660 Coit Rd. Suite 200

Dallas, TX 75251

Bring your team’s collected money to our office and we’ll do all the work for you! You can also pick up your team’s incentive t-shirts at this time.

Note : Final Collection Day is Friday May 23rd

Friday, March 21, 2014

Socialize and Mobilize


Fundraise for March for Babies
March for Babies
Using social and mobile media to raise money
A fast, easy and effective way to ask for support for your campaign is through online, social and mobile media. We have some great social and mobile fundraising tools that are just a finger-tap away:
·         Facebook app: Link your Facebook and March for Babies accounts to access sharing tools.
·         Facebook: "Friend" the March of Dimes, and our posts will show on your wall.
·         Badges: Use our customized online signature tool as an email signature.
·         LinkedIn: Share your support of March for Babies with your network.
·         Twitter: Tweet about or follow us @marchforbabies.
·         Mobile app: Manage your campaign from your iPhone®, iPad® or Android device.
·         Mobile website: We've optimized marchforbabies.org for smartphones and tablets so it will automatically detect you're visiting from a mobile device, making it easier to see your fundraising page.
Log In Now
And don't forget, you'll be rewarded for your efforts with these great thank-you gifts.
March for Babies fundraising incentives
Raise $200:
March for Babies T-shirt
Raise $350:
$15 Gift Card* and T-shirt
Raise $500:
$25 Gift Card* and T-shirt
Raise $1,000:
$50 Gift Card* and T-shirt
*Choice of Macy's or Kmart Gift Card
Raise $2,500:
$125 Gift Card* and T-shirt
Raise $5,000:
$250 Gift Card* and T-shirt
Raise $10,000:
$500 Gift Card* and T-shirt
Raise $20,000+:
$600 Gift Card* and T-shirt

Log In Now
Facebook
Twitter
 

Thank you to our national sponsors:
 
This electronic message is sponsored by March of Dimes, a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Donations to March of Dimes are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
For more information about the March of Dimes, visit our website at marchofdimes.com.
This email was sent to elavine@marchofdimes.com.
To unsubscribe from this type of appeal, simply send us an email here and you will be removed from future March for Babies mailing lists.
To unsubscribe from all March of Dimes correspondence, simply send us an email here and you will be taken off our mailing list.
© 2014 March of Dimes Foundation
March of Dimes 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Preferred Vendor List


We posted a new preferred vendor list to the right. Please be aware of the order deadlines below.
 
McAlister’s Preferred Order Deadline – April 4th
Corner Bakery’s Preferred Order deadline – April 9th

New Fundraising Incentives


In raising as little as $200, you can reach the first incentive level and receive a March for Babies t-shirt. Keep fundraising, and you’ll find yourself with a Macy’s gift card!  And……………

·         Walkers who register & raise $100+ online by March 31 will receive entry to win 2 United Airline tickets.

·         Team Captains who register & raise $100+ online AND recruit 10 walkers who raise $25 each by March 31 will receive entry to win an iPad

·         Walkers who raise $1000 by March 31st and you have become a Top Walker and will receive:

  • entry to win trip to VLC
  • Local recognition
  • Online Recognition (website & social media)
  • Local community press release
  • Walk Day Top Walker identifier

 

$200.00- March for Babies T-Shirt

$350.00- $15 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

$500.00- $25 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

$1,000.00- $50 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

$2,500.00- $125 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

$5,000.00- $250 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

$10,000.00- $500 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

$20,000.00- $600 Macy's or Kmart Gift Card & T-Shirt

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Give Blood, Help Save Moms and Babies' Lives



The March of Dimes Dallas Division is partnering with Carter BloodCare to help save moms and babies’ lives.  Did you know someone needs blood every three minutes?  Pregnant women with certain medical conditions and babies born too soon or sick often receive life-saving blood transfusions. Blood helps fight infection and heal wounds. So, please sign up to help us save moms and babies today, http://bit.ly/1d7SSvz -- donate blood at our drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, on Friday, April 4 at the Dallas Division office (12660 Coit Road, Suite 200). You are welcome to drop off March for Babies collected money and receive incentive t-shirts for your team members who have raised $200 or more during that time as well.

 

Thank you for your continued support of March of Dimes.
 



 





Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Meet the Clay Family

Meet the Clay Family, who is the ambassador family for the 2014 March for Babies. To see their story click here and be sure to grab a kleenex, they will inspire you to keep fundraising and to march for babies on April 12. Feel free to share this video with your walkers.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Early Bird Fundraising Special

Raise $100 online by February 28, 2014 and receive a March of Dimes March for Babies water bottle. This exclusive March for Babies water bottle will be awarded based on your online fundraising level achieved by end of business February 28, 2014. Online donations can be made via PayPal or credit card. Your gift will be shipped to your registration address approximately 2 weeks after the deadline.
 
Thank you for your support of March for Babies! Only 47 days left until the 2014 March for Babies.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

March for Babies Social Media Contest


March for Babies Social Media Contest!

Ready to get creative?  This year in 2014, Dallas March for Babies is kicking off the first social media contest!  So go ahead and be a socialite for babies! 

Rules:

·         To participate in the social media contest, you must be a registered March for Babies team.

·         Every social media impression for the contest must have the word “baby” somewhere (ex. A video counts if there’s a song with the word “baby”), but you have the ultimate creative license!

·         Make sure to tag your Twitter and Facebook posts with #MFBDFW!

·         Also make sure the post or video has your team name somewhere so we know it’s you!

·         ALL March of Dimes logos must be approved for you to post or use in your social media campaign.  Please click here to download approved graphics. Contact svogel@marchofdimes.com if you have any questions.

·         Please remember that March for Babies is a family event, all content must be family appropriate.

·         There will be two category winners:

o   Best 2014 March for Babies Social Media Contest Video

o   Best 2014 March for Babies Social Media Contest Facebook/Twitter Campaign

§  Keep a log of your posts/tweets and submit them upon the due date.  We will check your Facebook/twitter accounts along the way and at submission time!

·         ALL FINAL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE APRIL 1, 2014! 

·         Please send final submissions in by e-mail to Svogel@marchofdimes.com or to the March of Dimes office with subject: (insert your team name here, Social Media Contest)

o   March of Dimes Dallas Division

12660 Coit Road, Suite 200

Dallas, Texas 75251

·         The Social Media committee will select winner’s, who will be notified and will receive recognition and award at March for Babies! We will also announce the winner’s on our March for Babies blog April 8th!

·         Make sure to check our Blog for highlights and updates on the Social Media Contest along the way!  www.marchforbabies-dallas.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions on our social media contest, please contact Samantha Vogel at svogel@marchofdimes.com.