March for Babies to Raise Over $106 Million
More than 900 communities in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will take part this weekend in March for Babies, the premier fundraising event for the March of Dimes.
March for Babies supports research and community-based programs that help moms have full-term, healthy babies. The event has been held annually since 1970, and it has raised a combined total of $1.8 billion to help all babies get a healthy start in life. The goal for this year’s event is to raise more than $106 million.
“Funds raised in March for Babies not only support our efforts to give all babies a healthy start in life, we fund programs that bring comfort and information to families of babies born too sick or soon,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.
“More than 7 million people, including celebrities, sports stars, and families of babies born sick or prematurely are involved in March for Babies as volunteers, sponsors and participants. Participants can either walk as an individual or join a team with co-workers, family or friends by visiting marchforbabies.org.”
Celebrity Co-chairs for the Los Angeles March for Babies taking place Saturday, April 30 in Exposition Park are actors Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. Melissa and Joey will join a group of Hollywood moms who set out to do the walk each year.
In New York City, Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning of the New York Giants serves as NYC Celebrity Chairman for March for Babies. He’ll be leading the New York City event on the morning of Sunday, May 1 at Lincoln Center.
Television host and actress Vanessa Minnillo, the national spokesperson for Girlfriends for Folate (GFF), a health education campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of folate and folic acid intake among women of childbearing age, also will be walking in New York City on May 1.
A.J. Hawk of the reigning Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, his wife, Laura, and their newborn will join the March for Babies in Dayton, OH, at Carillon History Park on April 30.
The March of Dimes is a leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
