Current list of March of Dimes funded projects in VirginiaApril 26, 2009 SUFFOLK VA NEWS -- Good news in Suffolk Today! The Virginia Chapter of the March of Dimes held its 2009 Spring March for Babies walk at 12:30 p.m. beginning and ending at Constant's Wharf. More than 300 of Suffolk's citizens successfully took part in the community sponsored 3.5 mile walk to raise funds for the March of Dimes. March of Dimes Virginia Chapter, Greater Hampton Roads Division, Community Coordinator, Marilyn Eaton offered the following statement of thanks and gratitude to the participants of Suffolk's 2009 Spring March for Babies walk: "The March of Dimes would like to express our appreciation for all the kindness and generosity extended to all the participants who supported our mission to help give every baby a healthy start in life. We would like extend a special Thank you to the Hilton Garden Inn, Brian William GM, and Kelly White event coordinator, who graciously allowed us to use the outstanding facilities on an extremely hot day. They also offered the use of a conference room. We would also like to thank them for the upcoming Banquet room for Awards Ceremony on June 3, 2009. Not only has the Hilton Garden Inn graciously assisted the March of Dimes, but they have also offered the use of their facility to other non-profit organizations within the local community. We are grateful for their presence in our community." March for Babies is the new name for WalkAmerica, which was established in 1970, and has raised more than $1.5 billion to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Furthermore, March of Dimes successfully conducts their mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save infant lives. Meanwhile, March of Dimes has also managed to responsibly spend 77ยข of every dollar raised on mission goals. In 2005, the United States had 12.7% of live births born premature, which equal's one out of eight births born premature, or more than 460,000 babies born premature per year. A premature birth can occur without warning and for no known reason leading rise to a variety of birth defects and health problems. Depending upon the severity of these problems, families endure social and financial hardship, sometimes ending in the death of a child. Additionally, with today's advances in life sciences many of these hardships are preventable. That is the goal of the March of Dimes newly launched national multi-year, multimillion-dollar Prematurity Campaign to raise awareness of the problem of prematurity and to reduce the rate of premature birth. The Virginia Chapter March of Dimes has enacted many programs to raise funds such as Bikers for Babies to the March for Babies. However, the Virginia Chapter March of Dimes has also implemented many programs to achieve its mission goal, such as the March of Dimes Virginia NICU Family Support project to the Virginia Chapter Community Grants Program. The Virginia Chapter Community Grants Program is designed to invest in priority projects that further the March of Dimes mission, support national and state objectives, and furthering the strategic goal of reducing premature birth. Below is a current list of March of Dimes funded projects in Virginia as of January 4, 2009:
Community Awards:
In order to be eligible to receive a March of Dimes chapter grant, an organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) or for profit organization or government agency, and the March of Dimes will not award grants to individuals. Finally, Suffolk Virginia businesses and individuals alike are encouraged to actively support charities of the caliber of March of Dimes. Showing your support for the March of Babies actively contributes to your community, and moreover saves an infant's life. # # # |
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