March of Dimes Foundation
Metro AtlantaOffice
1776 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA30309
Media Alert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Media Inquiries Only Contact
Laura Johnson, , (678) 362-8314
Tracie Grant, , (423) 243-7639
READY. SET. MARCH FOR BABIES!
Nation’s Oldest Walk Fundraiser to Attract 15,000 Atlantans
Raise More than $5M for Georgia’s Babies
WHAT:Families in Atlanta and throughout the nation are gearing up for America’s oldest and beloved walking event, March for Babies. They are walking to give every baby a healthy start – that’s more than 11, 000 babies born every day in the United States. Started in 1970, March for Babies is the original walking event, raising more than $1.8 billion to fund important research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and give hope to the families of babies born too soon or sick.
WHEN:April 25, 2009 – 7:30 a.m. Registration | 9 a.m. Official Start of the Walk at
Centennial Olympic Park – Downtown Atlanta
WHERE:Centennial Olympic Park: 265 Park Ave. West NW, Atlanta, GA30313. There are fourwalks in Metro Atlanta and 26 additional walks throughout Georgia. Around the country, March for Babies takes place the weekend of April 25-26 in 900 communities in the U.S. - 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
WHO:Teams and individuals drawn from schools, clubs, mom groups, local and national businesses, hospitals and community partners. Community members will walk a 3.9 mile route beginning at Centennial Olympic Park. Family-fun activities include live music, a picnic by Publix Supermarkets and Coca Cola, face painting,inflatable gyms, Atlanta Braves Fast Pitch and frolicking with costumed characters.
Lots of local media celebrities too including Jovita Moore, Darik Kristopher, Paola Salazar, Chad Davis and Rashan Ali.
WHY:The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It is
the leading cause of newborn death and many lifelong disabilities affecting more than half a million babies each year and 372 babies each week in Georgia. The March of Dimes issued a Report Card on Premature Birth, giving the nation a D and Georgia a F. The 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. Babies born healthy need champions, too, to ensure they have access to newborn screening and preventive health care. The March of Dimes is there for all babies.
HOW:There’s still time to join in, visit marchforbabies.org, or call toll-free 800-525- 9255. Sign up as an individual, start a corporate, family or friends team, or donateonline to help babies be born healthy. Participants can also pick up sponsor forms at Kmart.
Other Information
Sponsors for March for Babies: In Atlanta, March for Babies is sponsored by State Sponsor
Macy’s, Metro Presenting SponsorKaiser Permanente, Platinum Sponsor AirTran Airways, Picnic
Sponsor Publix Super Market, Inc.and NorthsideHospital.
In 2009, national March for Babies sponsors are Kmart, the March of Dimes number one
corporate supporter, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, Farmers Insurance Group
of Companies, FedEx, First Response, Liberty Tax Services, and Mead Johnson Nutrition.
Media Sponsors include WSB TV-Newschannel 2, Univision 34, 104.7 The Fish, STAR 94,
MAJIC 107.5/97.5, Hot 107.9, Praise 102.5, theAtlanta Journal-Constitution, Daily Report,
Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS Outdoor.
About the March of Dimes: The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for
pregnancy and baby health. Withchapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies,
the March of Dimes works toimprove the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature
birth and infant mortality. Forthe latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or
nacersano.org.
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