march for babies blog

July 22 is Be a Hero for Babies day!

I won’t watch a scary movie by myself, I’m deathly terrified of spiders and am already teaching my son to fear motorcycles. No hero by any standard.

But this, I can do: go one day without my skinny latte, bring my own lunch to work, skip pizza Friday, have date night at home…

That’s all it takes to be a hero for a little baby.

July 22 is “Be a Hero for Babies” day and starting today, our friends at Farmers are doubling every gift to the March of Dimes.

You can give as little as $1.99 and they’ll match it. And when you’re done, you can pick up our avatar (the cute picture above) and show off your new superhero status to your friends on Facebook or Twitter!

I know you worked hard for March for Babies. But the fight goes on for babies born too soon or very sick. Please give your $1.99 today. Or tomorrow. Don’t wait to long though - Farmers’ match is only good through the 22nd.

What can you give up today to save a baby?

Update 7/20: Only three days left. Time to get out your cape - or your credit card. Be a hero for babies, I know you have it in you!

Kerri and Maggie with DC March for Babies leaders

The Washington Monument in the background, families and friends gathered and the sun shining - combined, these pieces make for a perfect March for Babies day! The DC event was a great success, with local residents showing up in full force to walk around our Nation’s Capitol so that one day every baby is born healthy.

As you avid readers know, Kerri Strug came out to the event and was able to spend some time with our top youth walker in the area, Maggie. Kerri got a few fundraising tips from superstar Maggie. And Maggie, who hadn’t reached her goal yet, sent another ask with photos from her day at March for Babies and hit her goal, raising $3015!

From family teams to high school volunteers to some of our favorite athletes including Kerri and Brian Mitchell, the day was all about people coming together to support the March of Dimes and healthy babies. I had a fabulous time at my 11th March for Babies, and I hope you did too! Tell us all about it.

And if you happen to be walking in San Antonio this weekend, keep your eyes out for American Idol former contestant and local Team Youth Ambassador Haley Scarnato. She’ll be making an appearance at the San Antonio March for Babies!

So, we’ve been around for awhile. And it struck me just how long when I read the great-granddaughter of the first March of Dimes president is speaking at the Winchester, VA, March for Babies. The walk is this Saturday.

Karen Drury will be talking about her great-grandfather Basil O’Connor’s many accomplishments. She was interviewed by NV Daily and said this about her work for the March of Dimes: “I think I’m going to be doing a lot for them. My great-grandfather was all about volunteerism. This is my way of keeping his memory alive.”

Basil O’Connor signed up as president of the March of Dimes in 1938 - the end of the Depression. People were feeling the pinch just like we are now, worse even. Still, they gave what they can - sending in their dimes. We’re counting on America once again!

“We can all volunteer,” said Karen. “We can all do our part.”

John Bricker and Wendy Sledd-MFB09-HarrisburgPA

Wendy Sledd,  Central PA’s board chair (who also happens to be Mrs. Pennsylvania) joined John Bricker on the stage at the Harrisburg March for Babies. 

It was a wet day. But that didn’t keep the crowd away! Harrisburg had a record turnout and went way over their goal!

John, by the way, is a team captain. His team raised a modest $31,000. Kidding, that’s amazing! And of that money, he raised $30,000 himself! Go John! And go Central PA Family Teams!!!

Thank you for sharing those photos and stories! Keep sending them in and we’ll post them here.

Pittsburgh March for Babies

More than 3,000 people took to the streets of Pittsburgh to raise an amazing $500,000+ for March for Babies this past weekend - Way to go!

Did you walk this weekend? Was the event in your city an amazing day, please let us hear!

Magdalenas Feet Family Team

Magdalena Roberts was born to Noah and Julie of Clinton, MS on August 6, 2008. She was diagnosed with T-18 or Edwards Syndrome at just 20 weeks gestation.

The Roberts were getting ready for March for Babies and planned to speak at their kickoff on January 15, 2009. Unfortunately, Magdalena passed away just days earlier. Her family had 5 wonderful months of memories together. Magdalena’s funeral was the very hour of our Luncheon. Julie was determined to spread the word about sweet Magdalena so her boss came to the kickoff to deliver Julie’s speech.

Julie asked that everyone wear pink on the day of the funeral. She was sent pictures from all over the world of people in pink honoring Magdalena.

The Magdalena’s Feet Family Team participated in The Tri County March for Babies in Ridgeland, MS on May 2, 2009. An impressive 200+ walkers showed up on May 2 to celebrate the life of Magdalena. And 85 more people joined the team online and walked in 14 states. Noah and Julie’s family and friends raised more than $16,000 for March for Babies.

The Roberts are expecting a baby boy in early Fall. Follow their blog to see how everyone’s doing.

If you have a successful Family Team story you want to share with us, or even just a great picture, please do!

©Amber McNamara, Kalamazoo, MI

All you walkers and fundraisers out there, I know you’ve done so much already… but we still need your help! 

It’s really no surprise, but March for Babies is feeling the economic crunch. Despite everyone’s best efforts, we’re $3 million short of our online fundraising goal.

I just found out about this number and all I can think about is what a huge amount of money that is. And then I think about how much we could do with that money to help babies and families.

The March of Dimes has already cut several million in research grants. Now it looks like that may have been just the beginning.

Unless we do something now. And we can. Yes, $3 million is big. But if we all join together, it’s not that much!

$20 from every March for Babies participant is all it takes to reach our goal. $20, made as a donation to your own walk. Even if you’ve already reached your goal. It’s all it takes.

You guys, I have never asked you to do anything I’m not doing myself also. I gave my $20, please join me!

I’m counting on you, we’re counting on you. And most of all, the babies are. Help give them the chance they deserve.

I’m sure many of you who walked last weekend, or are planning on walking this weekend, had beautiful locations for your March for Babies event. But I think I definitely lucked out with my walk. I was in New Haven, CT volunteering at their event which took place at Lighthouse Point Park. On the beach. Complete with a lighthouse, old-fashioned carousel, and plenty of picturesque views for walkers to enjoy.

There were many highlights from the day, but watching the children play after completing the route was definitely one of them. I was also very moved by Team Kaelyn, a family team walking in memory of a little girl with my name. Thank you to Team Kaelyn, Team Peleach, and all of the other family teams who walked and helped remind me why participating in March for Babies is so important.

And youth walkers? Special shout out to East Shore Middle School who fundraised and walked in a community service effort led by student Serena Mulligan. Also, kudos to the women of Quinnipiac University’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team who showed up with smiles to help set up the walk. Go Team Youth!

It was such a beautiful day, I couldn’t resist snapping some photos. Did your walk site rival mine in beauty? Were you inspired by any family teams or youth walkers? Please share, we’d love to hear what made your March for Babies Day!

Jennifer Lopez kicks off Miami March for Babies

Superstar Jennifer Lopez serves as 2009 March for Babies Honorary Chair!

This cause means a lot to the new mom - her own babies, twins Max and Emme, just turned one! She is so excited to help other mothers have healthy pregnancies and babies, too.

Along with national sponsor sanofi-pasteur, she will be helping to raise awareness about the need for new parents to get vaccinated against pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

A radiant Jennifer Lopez kicked off the Miami, FL, March for Babies last Saturday. She joined thousands of walkers and also brought out the sun.

Thank You WellPoint!

Each year, WellPoint (the nation’s largest health benefits company) encourages their associates to participate in Community Service Day. Lucky for us, March of Babies is an event chosen by WellPoint given our shared goals to improve the health of families.

On Saturday, 400 WellPoint volunteers helped with everything from set up to clean up at 25 sites across the country. And…in Los Angeles, Leslie A. Margolin (President, Anthem Blue Cross in California - a WellPoint affiliate) led a team of 200 more WellPoint volunteers who walked and fundraised.

And…Anthem Blue Cross in California is a $50,000 sponsor in LA. Three great ways for our friends in the health care industry to partner with us for babies! Thanks, WellPoint!