How not asking is the same as saying NO

On-line and Off-line Fundraising

How much would you be willing to raise if you knew your fundraising could save a baby’s life?  One of the great things about March for Babies is that your ability to contribute is not limited by your checkbook.  The amount you raise is limited only by your willingness to ask others to support your efforts!

There are two ways to raise donations for March for Babies:

§On-line fundraising is one easy way—simple, fast, and efficient! This tool allows you to send email messages and requests for donations to your friends and family. See 2013 Fundraising Tips! 

§Off-line fundraising is another simple way.  Personally ask your family and friends for a donation either in person or via a mailed letter.    See 2013 Fundraising Tips!

See our PDF to your (right) and read how you can make a difference.

 One would rather have the efforts of 1% of 100 people than 100% of my own efforts!  

PREEMIE Reauthorization Act

      This week the March of Dimes has big news from Washington, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) introduced the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S.252/ H.R. 541)! If you don't keep up with legislation the Act is comprehensive legislation reauthorizing critical federal research and programs that will help identify the causes of premature births, and work to prevent them. Thanks to your tireless efforts as advocates and supporters, we made critical advancements moving the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act forward last year. During the last weeks of the 112th Congress, both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate PASSED the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, but it didn't become law due to procedural entanglements. With the new Congress now under way, we're back for our next attempt at getting this important bill enacted into law.

     After the original PREEMIE Act passed in 2006, preterm birth rates dropped for five consecutive years after rising steadily for three decades.  Reauthorizing the PREEMIE Act will help us reach the March of Dimes goal of lowering the preterm birth rate to 9.6 percent by 2020 and reducing the number of infant deaths and childhood disabilities caused by premature birth. There are encouraging signs that PREEMIE is primed for early action in both chambers, and our Congressional champions remain committed to securing passage of this bill into law.  Your work throughout 2012 provided a firm foundation for this year, and we will likely call on you in the coming weeks as we work to secure swift passage to ensure all babies have a healthy start.

 

The March of Dimes thanks you for your continued support!

 

Kickoff Breakfast Success!

(Preparation at Omni Dallas)

       February 6, 2013, March of Dimes- Dallas played host to their annual kickoff breakfast at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas. The event was a thriving success with over six-hundred corporate, and family teams joined together for breakfast in celebration of 2012's success and 2013's impending momentum!
       Each attendee present in the audience was challenged to be their best for babies this year; both through an emotional presentation by the Price family, and glowing recognition of last years successes, 2013 promises to be ever greater than last year. We urge each family, individual, and corporation to join us in this challenge and go bigger for babies this year, if last year teams reached their goals, lets take it up a notch and reach higher! A small pebble creates a large ripple.

Read Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby

Having a baby is one of nature's true blessings and miracles. You have many choices in front of you in this exciting time and the more you know, the more empowered and prepared you become!
Get the facts you need. Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby brought to you by March of Dimes clearly lays out all the must-know information about every stage of your pregnancy, along with research-based advice to help keep you healthy and full of energy.

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby features:

• A straight-forward "Start Where You Are" approach to maternity
• A month-by-month look at how your baby is growing
• The truth about weight gain and nutrition
• The essential labor checklist

Meet the Authors

Siobhan Dolan, M.D., M.P.H.

As a medical advisor to March of Dimes, Siobhan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and an attending physician in the Division of Reproductive Genetics at Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital for Einstein, in New York City. Dr. Dolan is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Medical School and holds a master's degree in public health from Columbia University. The mother of three teenagers, she lives with her family in Westchester County, N.Y.

Alice Lesch Kelly

Alice is an award-winning medical writer and health journalist. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Kelly has two sons and lives in the Boston area.

 

 

 

 

Watch the Video about Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby HERE!

Social Media As a Developement Tool?

Yes, why not? In today’s fast paced society sometimes the only tool you have is social media! Facebook has revolutionized the idea of advertising, speaking, and communicating; whether it is a local business, a charity, or even your relationship status; the point being, news travels faster by word of mouth. To spread the word about our amazing organization and your own personal efforts why not use social media as a tool.

 

Instead of, or in addition to the Facebook application, LIKE the “March of Dimes” page and share their posts on your wall. Always enter the link to your March for Babies personal page in your status or comments. This helps your friends understand why you’re asking for their support and easily link them to your page to donate.

Follow @marchforbabies  on twitter! Important tweets will now show on your timeline. Tweet about your fundraising progress, your team and ask your followers to help. Always include the link to your March for Babies!

Login and share your participation in the status box of your LinkedIn. Be ure to include the link to your March for Babies page. You can post to Twitter from LinkedIn too! 

YES THERE IS A MOBILE WEBSITE: We’ve optimized www.marchforbabies.org for smartphones and tablets so it will automatically detect you are visiting from a mobile device, making it easier to see your fundraising page. Click on the “Download Apps” button and select which March for Babies application you would like to download: iPhone/iPad, Android, or Facebook. You can update your page, send emails, and record donations anytime. 

 

Now you can spread the word about your involvement with March for Babies, so spread it via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Leave a status message encouraging your friends, family and followers to donate to your fundraising page.

 

 

 

 

 

Be Your Best For Babies

          Does it seem like an odd request to ask you to be your best? If you ask any parent who's gone through the struggle that comes with a premature birth, they would say it is not much to ask considering what their child had to go through. Looking to the future, the March of Dimes' mission will have touched every family in America in one way or another. Perhaps you or a sibling is going through a rough pregnancy, maybe you know someone who has had experience with the NICU; the point is premature birth is a part of all of our lives and that needs to change. The only way to change that is to BE YOUR BEST FOR BABIES that comes with 

THE CHALLENGE:

            Set a higher goal than last year, or continue to raise money even if you reach your original goal! You can feel good about giving more babies a healthy start in life.

 

March of Dimes 75th Anniversary

 Love Lucy: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with their two children

      The March of Dimes celebrates 75 years of research, vaccines and breakthroughs that benefit every baby. Celebrate with us. Our work is made possible, year after year thanks to the generous support of more than 3 million volunteers who donate their time, talent and even their voices to help babies. Donors big and small help fund community programs, and millions of others support a variety of special events, including our largest fundraiser, March for Babies. Together we’re improving the lives of babies and families at home and around the world.

 

        Over the past 75 years we’ve been thinking about the babies of the nation. In the 1950’s it was his personal experience with polio that inspired President Franklin Roosevelt to found the March of Dimes in 1938 to defeat the crippling disease. Success came in the form of a vaccine. The same polio vaccine that eradicated the disease from the United States protects babies today. Newborn screening for PKU and 29 other serious conditions brought about in the 1960’s continues to keep babies out of harms way. Newborn intensive care dating back to the 1970’s saves the lives of thousands of premature and very sick babies each year. Going into the 1980’s surfactant therapy was introduced to help tiny lungs breathe. Finally, from the 1990’s to today, folic acid education lessens the number of babies who are born with neural tube defects. One of the last major mountains to climb in the realm of premature birth is that of a strong heart for every baby. Abolishing premature birth is of course the ultimate goal and the bar is set at 9.6% of live births. U.S. preterm birth rates have declined for five consecutive years and it is because of people like you who are willing to make a difference. Your support today helps us continue cutting-edge research to determine the causes of birth defects and premature birth. Lets work together for stronger, healthier babies.

Walgreens Support!

Special thank you to our Statewide Sponsor, Walgreens for supporting March for Babies!

Next time you're picking up a prescription or another item at your local Walgreens, be sure and tell them thank you for their support.  If you have a personal connection to March of Dimes, be sure and share that with them as well.

The March of Dimes Staff participated in a "Walgreens Blitz" this past week, dropping off a "Thank You" drawn by our own Dallas Ambassador, Kaitlyn.

Fundraising Tool: Diaper Bingo

Less than 20 days away from March for Babies!  Use this tool to generate a fun and exciting compeitition and play "Diaper Bingo" with your team or coworkers.

Parking Information & March for Babies Countdown

Find Parking information for March for Babies here, or to the right under "March for Babies Materials."

March for Babies is just 33 Days away, and we still need your help fundraising!

How much does it cost to register for March for Babies? $0.00

How much does it cost to email my friends and family, and ask them to support me by donating to March of Dimes?  $0.00

The feeling I get when I raise money to prevent another parent from experiencing the NICU or the loss of a child?           PRICELESS!!!

Team Captain Webinar Information

Join us for an online demonstration and conference call to learn how to best use our Online Fundraising tool.

Wednesday, March 14^th @ 3 p.m. 

Register Today by seletcing the link below and following the prompts

 https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/787672872

McAllister's Boxed Lunch Information

As one of our preferred vendors, McAllister's is offering Boxed Lunches at a reduced rate.  They will deliver them to the walk site in time for lunch on April 21. 

For pricing and ordering information, please visit this link.  The information is also available under "March of Dimes Links" to the right.

Team Recognition at the Kickoff Breakfast

Last week, the Dallas Division hosted the kickoff breakfast for the 2012 March for Babies season at the new Omni Hotel Downtown.  Top Teams were recognized for corporations, family teams and individual walkers

 

Congratulations to the #1 Corporate Team, Bank of America!

2012 March for Babies is Here!

Sign up today at

marchforbabies.org

to start your 2012 team!

Thank you!

The countdown is over!  March for Babies was Saturday and we can't say thank you enough!

I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather and had a great time at March for Babies.  Here are some highlights from the walk:

Heather Hays from Fox 4 emceed the Opening Ceremony

Dr. Stephen Mansfield, President/CEO of Methodist Health System and March for Babies Chairman commenced the walk

Former American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, walked along with thousands of other March of Dimes supporters
Our 4 t-shirt winners were announced: Parkland Hospital, Balfour Beatty, Pediatrix Medical Group, and Tru's Crew (Family Team)
The Path of Hope lined the route, remembering over 100 babies born prematurely
Our Family Teams tent was filled to the brim-- the kids enjoyed face painting, bubbles, and playing with the clown
Our corporate teams' tents were jammin'... Lots of music, food, and fun!
NASCAR driver, Denny Hamlin's FedEx car was there (and was designed by the Aaron's kids-- one of our awesome family teams)

It was an amazing day for our corporate and family teams!  We walk so that one day all babies will born healthy... and we couldn't do it without you all.