Lane County Kicks Off March for Babies - 02/04/10 >The largest fundraiser in support of healthy babies by March of Dimes kicks off Thursday, February 11th at the Eugene Hilton in the Bloch Room The noon lunch will bring together Lane County Team Captains in preparation for the 2010 March for Babies walk. Volunteer leaders will hear a personal story of one family's trials with preterm birth from Ambassador Nicole Roberts, learn more about why community support matters by PeaceHealth's Christine Heritage, and hear about building a team from Dawn Green, of PacificSource Health Plans. The kickoff event will be emceed by Jennifer Winters, of KVAL.
Residents of Lane County will hit the streets April 24th for the walk to benefit March of Dimes and raise money to help improve the health of all babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. "Helping babies be born healthy is vital to the hope and future of our communities," said Jill Hoggard-Green, Administrator of Scared Heart Medical Center and 2010 March for Babies Chair. "One day, all babies will be born healthy, but we're going to have to walk to get there."
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.
The Lane County Kickoff is sponsored by Kendall Subaru.
Locally March for Babies sponsors include Liberty Northwest, PacificSource Health Plans, KeyBank, Pacific Power, First Tech Credit Union, Kendall Subaru, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Columbia Sportswear, Bi-Mart, US Bank, KVAL and Cumulus Broadcasting.
In 2010, national March for Babies sponsors are Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter, Farmers Insurance Group, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, FedEx, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal.
March for Babies walks will take place in 19 locations in Oregon and SW Washington. For more information or to register to participate, visit marchforbabies.org, call 1-800-525-9255 or get sponsor forms at Kmart or Famous Footwear.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
Portland and Vancouver Kickoff March for Babies - 02/04/10 >The largest fundraiser in support of healthy babies by March of Dimes kicks off Friday, February 5th at the Oregon Zoo in the Vista Room. The 8:00 am breakfast will bring together Portland and Vancouver Team Captains in preparation for the 2010 March for Babies walk. Volunteer leaders will hear a personal story of one family's trials with preterm birth from Chapter Ambassador Nicole Silverman, learn more about why research matters by Dr. Kent Thornburg of OHSU, and hear about building a team from Ronda Robles, VP of US Bank. The kickoff event will be emceed by Christina Williams, editor of the Portland Business Journal's Sustainable Business Oregon.
Residents of Portland and Vancouver will hit the streets April 24th for walks in each city to benefit March of Dimes and raise money to help improve the health of all babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. "Helping babies be born healthy is vital to the hope and future of our communities," said Julie Burnett, CEO of Liberty Northwest and 2010 March for Babies Chair. "One day, all babies will be born healthy, but we're going to have to walk to get there."
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.
The Portland / Vancouver Kickoff is sponsored by Stoel Rives and The Portland Business Journal.
In 2010 national March for Babies sponsors are Kmart, the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter, Farmers Insurance Group, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, FedEx, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal. "Locally we are proud to also be sponsored by Liberty Northwest, PacificSource Health Plans, KeyBank, Pacific Power, First Tech Credit Union, Columbia Sportswear, US Bank, Kuni Automotive, Farmers Insurance, ODS, Providence Health & Services, Stoel Rives, OHSU, UnitedHealthcare, KATU, Univision, 105.1 The Buzz, 99.5 The Wolf, and 97.1 Charlie," said Denise Townsend, Director of Special Events.
March for Babies walks will take place in 19 locations in Oregon and SW Washington. For more information or to register to participate, visit marchforbabies.org, call 1-800-525-9255 or get sponsor forms at Kmart or Famous Footwear.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
Centennial High School Donates a Mile of Dimes - 02/02/10 >11 Local Businesses, Along With School Staff Help Kids Raise Over $11,000
---Photo Op---
Check presentation and Dancing With The Staff Encore Presentation on February 12th
Centennial High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) surpassed their goal to raise a mile of dimes (or $10,000) for March of Dimes by $1,333. To celebrate their efforts over the last five months, Centennial High School is holding an assembly on February 12th where they'll present March of Dimes of Greater Oregon with the check, hold encore performances of the two most popular Dancing With the Staff routines, the school choir will sing, dime facts will be shared and more.
111 FBLA members, nearly 2,000 Centennial staff members and students, and 11 businesses from the Gresham community worked together on over 14 events to raise 11,333 to support the March of Dimes mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
The Mile of Dimes Assembly will be held at Centennial High School on Friday, February 12th at 8:30 am. The entire school, including staff and 1,900 students, will gather to celebrate the FBLA's achievement, learn a little more about March of Dimes and how each and every one of them is a champion for babies. They'll also enjoy encore performances from the 1st and 2nd place winners (the hilarious History of Dance and Vanilla Ice's Ice, Ice Baby, respectively) of their Dancing With the Staff competition/fundraiser.
Local businesses contributing to the Mile of Dimes efforts include Baja Fresh, Deli Barn, Finnegan's Toy Store, Gresham Kiwanis, Kidding Around Photography, Panda Express, Papa's Pizza, Rose Bowl, 162nd & Division Safeway, SkullCandy, and Umpqua Bank.
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
Members of the press interested in covering the Mile of Dimes Assembly should contact Adriann Spencer (FBLA Advisor at Centennial High School) at 503.762.6180 ex. 5507 or Michele Larsen (March of Dimes Communications Director) at 503-222-9434 ext. 19.
###
Administrator of Sacred Heart Medical Center, Jill Hoggard-Green to help raise $165,000 as March for Babies Chair - 01/21/10 >Jill Hoggard-Green will serve as revenue chair for the 2010 March for Babies, the March of Dimes biggest fundraiser. She is committed to help raise $165,000 for March of Dimes research and community programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies to begin healthy lives.
In Lane County, March for Babies will take place on April 24th at Alton Baker Park. Businesses and individuals can sign up and raise funds online at www.marchforbabies.org.
"I'm serving as the 2010 Revenue Chair for March for Babies because I believe this is our best opportunity to bring visibility to March for Babies," says Jill Hoggard-Green. "If we can give a child a healthy birth, we've had a positive impact on their future quality of life."
Jill is joined by a distinguished roster of business leaders who are spearheading the event in Lane County. Cherie Kistner, corporate communications manager for Oregon Community Credit Union; Dwight Dzierzek, business development for Northwest Community Credit Union; and Christine Cameron.
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.
This year, donations raised through March for Babies will go farther by funding critical March of Dimes programs and directly helping local families in need. When individuals raise $500 or more, items ranging from a year's supply of prenatal vitamins to cribs and car seats will be donated on the individual's behalf to a family in need in the community the money was raised.
"We stand for babies, all babies, which means we stand for moms, too," Elizabeth Joscelyn, March of Dimes State Director for Oregon and Southwest Washington said. "Our new walker mission incentives reward you and enhance our support of the March of Dimes mission through direct benefits to moms in need right in your community. So now, every dollar you raise gives back twice. And we think that's a pretty good thing." The new mission incentives for families in need are made possible by a donation from US Bank.
March of Dimes invested more than $1 million in research and programs in Oregon and Southwest Washington alone in 2009. Scientists are working to improve the health of babies by seeking the causes and solutions for preterm birth.
Locally, March for Babies is sponsored by Liberty Northwest, PacificSource Health Plans, KeyBank, Pacific Power, First Tech Credit Union, Columbia Sportswear, US Bank, Kuni Automotive, Farmers Insurance, ODS, Big 5, Kendall Subaru, Sacred Heart Medical Center of PeaceHealth, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and KVAL.
National sponsors are Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, FedEx, Sanofi Pasteur, First Response and Mission Pharmacal.
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
###
March of Dimes Receives $15,000 from Chubb Charity Challenge Golf Tournament - 01/15/10 >March of Dimes Greater Oregon Chapter was pleasantly surprised with a check for $15,000 from Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. The money came from the 2009 Chubb Charity Challenge golf tournament, where March of Dimes Board Member Jeremy Andersen and his team came in 10th of 44 teams.
Andersen, vice president of Durham and Bates in Portland, has been on the board of the Greater Oregon Chapter of March of Dimes since 2007. He and his team won the local qualifying tournament and got to compete nationally at the famed Pinehurst No. 2 course in North Carolina. They chose March of Dimes as the beneficiary of their winnings.
The 2009 annual Chubb Charity Challenge raised in excess of $840,000, bringing the golf tournament's decade-long contributions to charities across the United States and Canada to more than $8 million.
"It's really about what we can do locally here in the community," said Jill Abere, vice president and branch manager of Chubb & Son in Portland, as she presented the check to Michael O'Reilly, 2009 March of Dimes Board Chair.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
About Chubb
The member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers worldwide through 8,500 independent agents and brokers. Chubb's global network includes branches and affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia.
Photo: (left to right) Michael O'Reilly, principal Vista Capital Partners and March of Dimes 2009 chair; Jeremy Andersen, vice president of Durham and Bates and March of Dimes board member; Jill Abere, , vice president and branch manager of Chubb & Son; Sean McCarthy, senior vice president of Durham and Bates.
###
Nominate a Woman of Achievement for the Prestigious White Rose Award -- Youth Award Added - 01/13/10 >March of Dimes Greater Oregon Chapter is once again looking for special women who live or work in Oregon and have made exceptional contributions to our community. The organization is now accepting applications for the 28th Annual White Rose Award—A Salute to Women of Achievement.
White Rose honorees are selected on the basis of volunteerism, professional excellence and contributions to the community as a whole. Honorees must live or work in Oregon and have excelled in one or more of the following areas:
• Arts
• Human Services
• Business
• Politics/Government
• Community Service
• Professional Services
• Education
• Volunteer Efforts
• Health & Sciences
March of Dimes is excited to add a youth award component to the luncheon this year. A female youth (under age 24) will be honored based on her own volunteerism and contributions to her community.
Award recipients will be recognized at the White Rose Luncheon, Thursday May 27, at the Portland Marriott Downtown.
Nomination applications are available by calling (503) 222-9434 in Portland, 1-800-811-0805 outside Portland, or online at www.marchofdimes.com/oregon. Applications must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29th to the March of Dimes Portland office. A selection committee will review all nominations, and the 2010 White Rose Honorees will be announced in February.
Proceeds from the luncheon benefit March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
###
