Funding For Babies in Jeopardy - Will You Help?

An Urgent Message from the President of March of Dimes! Read on to find out how you can help...

Dear friend,

The March of Dimes means hope for all babies. And we are making progress — the rate of premature birth declined in 2007 for the first time in many years.

But in 2009, we face great challenges in continuing to fund our lifesaving research and programs. I am sorry to bring bad news, but I must tell you that even though tens of thousands of people have signed up for March for Babies, our fundraising is down by 15 percent. That means we cannot support babies and families as strongly as we did just last year.

Recently, we made the difficult decision to cut $3 million in research grants — funding that was urgently needed to develop new treatments for babies born too soon or with birth defects. We planned to bring NICU Family Support® to 20 new hospitals in 2009. Now, I fear we won't meet this goal. This program, which provides much-needed information and comfort to parents with a baby in newborn intensive care, is now in jeopardy.

I am writing to you today to ask you to help restore hope to the millions of families who look to us for information, leadership and scientific breakthroughs that improve the health of babies.

It does not take much. If every walker raises just $50 more, we can continue to help the babies and families who depend on us. Will you be one of them?

The March of Dimes means hope for all babies. Thank you for not letting them down.

With gratitude,
Dr. Jennifer L. Howse

Please support me in the March For Babies!
Ways you can help:
1. Walk with us on April 25, 2009
2. Place a Heritage Makers order under my fundraiser Workshop. Proceeds donated to MOD. www.mystorybooklady.com
3. Make an online donation www.marchforbabies.org/bkm2jbmommy

Thank you for reading!!!
Betty