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March
of Dimes 2014 goal is $110,000
By
Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE
– The goal for the March of Dimes’ 75th anniversary is $110,000
in Darke County. Greenville Federal’s Shawn Daugherty, 2014 Darke
County Chair, said Darke County raised $100,000 last year; he planned
to exceed it this year.
The
2014 campaign kickoff took place Oct. 17 at St. Clair Manor, with
March of Dimes Division Director Jackie Allen and Community Director
Angele Price providing background about the organization, the needs,
successes and how local participants can help.
One
in nine babies is born premature. With medical expenses, hospital
stays and other expenses this represents a $26.2 billion cost to
society. Every week in Ohio 2,902 babies are born; 382 are born too
soon and 254 are born too small. Twenty two babies die before their
first birthday.
March
of Dimes volunteer efforts have helped provide advancements such as
ultrasound technology and newborn screenings. The money raised in
Darke County is used in Darke County.
Daugherty
suggested company teams were a successful way to promote the Annual
March for Babies, which will take place in April.
“These
are typically employee driven,” he said. “And there is usually
little or no cost to the employer.”
Allen
talked about family teams, and family and friend teams. The event
raises money for the March of Dimes but the most important part is
“We had fun!”
As
in the 2013 event, the ‘Walk’ will start at the Darke County
Fairgrounds on April 26. Registration is 8 a.m.; the Walk begins at 9
a.m. It is a 5-mile walk, although there will also be a
family-friendly 1-mile route. The post event celebration will have
food, music and a Kid Zone.
The
top teams in 2013 were Greenville Technology Inc. and Midmark
Corporation, although several employers throughout the county took
part in the event. Darke County Municipal Judge Julie Monnin
coordinated the 300 county employees composing the ‘Darke to Lite’
team. Mississinawa Valley Elementary School had a team as well.
Nationwide
the March of Dimes ‘March for Babies’ has been the organization’s
main fundraising event since 1970 and has raised $2 billion. November
is Prematurity Awareness Month while Nov. 17 has been designated
Prematurity Awareness Day.
Published
courtesy of The Early Bird
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