Register Online for March for Babies 2012

March for Babies 2012 is live on line! You can register your Family Team for March for Babies 2012. Visit marchforbabies.org and enter your username and password. You will be able to update your team’s website by adding a new message or picture. You may want to send a holiday message to friends and family now to ask for donations. It’s the season of giving! If you need help activating your website, please contact your March for Dimes staff liaison – we are happy to help!

Also, make sure to mark your calendar for March for Babies 2012.

April 21st
Allegany County

April 22th
Harford County
Wicomico County

April 28th
Prince George’s
Washington County

April 29th
Caroline County
Frederick County
Prince William County

May 5st
Greater Baltimore
Montgomery County
St. Mary’s / Calvert County
Worchester County

May 6th
Charles County
Fairfax County

May 12th
Washington DC

Happy Holidays from the March of Dimes Maryland-National Capital Area!

Jersey Mike’s Fundraiser – November 13th through November 19th

To celebrate Prematurity Awareness Month, Jersey Mike’s is donating 15% of their proceeds (with the flyer linked below) to March of Dimes. Enjoy lunch or dinner at any of 7 locations and support March of Dimes all week long!

Participating Locations:

In Maryland: Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Hagerstown, and Laurel

In Virginia: Leesburg and Sterling

Nancy Wiley – nwiley@marchofdimes.com

Southern Maryland Ambassador Sought for the March of Dimes

The search is on! The March of Dimes of Southern Maryland is beginning the selection process for the 2012 Southern Maryland Ambassador. The Southern Maryland Ambassador Program is a semi-annual campaign that puts a face on the March of Dimes mission…the face of a child who was helped by March of Dimes-funded research, programs, or educational campaigns designed to improve infant health. As a living symbol of the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality, the Southern Maryland Ambassador plays a vital role in promoting the Foundation’s outreach.

Throughout the year, the Southern Maryland Ambassador and at least one parent travel across the region to meetings, special events, conferences, and fundraising activities, sharing their compelling story with audiences. During these visits, the Southern Maryland Ambassador may participate in media interviews and photo sessions and makes appearances with local celebrities, public officials, and senior-level corporate management to increase public, awareness of the
March of Dimes mission.

In order to qualify for Southern Maryland Ambassador, the following guidelines must be met:
The March of Dimes must have played some role (through research, community service, public education, etc.) in the child’s story.

The child’s school schedule and the parent’s work schedule(s) should be flexible enough to accommodate regional travel and related appearances without jeopardizing the parent’s employment. (Primarily weekends and/or week nights)

The child and his or her parent(s) must be able to well represent the March of Dimes at local events and volunteer meetings, as well as with media outlets of all types and at all levels.

All applications submitted will be reviewed by a committee to determine if the applicant meets the qualifications outlined in the guidelines. Finalists will be contacted to schedule an interview and photo session with one or more representatives of the Southern Maryland office. The Southern Maryland Ambassador will be chosen by the committee, based on the results of the personal visits, interviews and photo sessions. Notification takes place by letter, informing each family of the committee’s selection.

All interested persons may request an application package by contacting Jennifer Abell at 571-257-2310 or by email jabell@marchofdimes.com. All 2012 application forms are due no later than Friday, December 2, 2011.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the 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.

Jenn Abell jabell@marchofdimes.com

Coming Soon…Festival of Trees in Salisbury, MD!

Join us for a holiday tradition on the Eastern Shore. Festival of Trees will be downtown, Salisbury, at the City Center. There is something for everyone, and this is an event you won’t want to miss. Listed below is our schedule of events.

General Admission

Sunday, November 20- 12-6pm

Monday, November 21- 10am-7pm

Tuesday, November 22-10am-7pm

Wednesday, November 23-10am-7pm

November 24 & 25-Closed for Thanksgiving

Saturday, November 26- 10am-7pm*

Sunday, November 27- 12-6pm

Monday, November 28- 10am-7pm

Tuesday, November 29-10am-7pm

Wednesday, November 30-10am-7pm

Thursday, December 10am-2pm

Adults $5/Children $3

Event Highlights

*Children’s Holiday Party

Saturday, November 26^th-10am-1pm

A holiday party for children featuring a visit from Santa, several make it & take it crafts, holiday hair and nails for the lil’ divas, cupcake decorating, face painting, Lego league demo & MORE!

$5 per person

YOUR KEY TO FABULOUS...

Ladies Night Out...at the Festival of Trees

Thursday, December 1, 2011-5:30-8:30pm
A fabulous fun-filled night devoted to pampering, holiday ideas & shopping...
Fashion Show, Key Raffle, Cupcake Challenge, Food,
Live & Silent Auctions, Prizes, Music, Shopping & More!
$25 in advance/$35 at the door

Contact Name and Email: Nicole Scharf at nscharf@marchofdimes.com or Wendy Jarrett at wjarrett@marchofdimes.com

Signature Chefs Auction of D.C.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011 • 6:30 p.m.

The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C.

Signature Chefs Auction of D.C. features 25 of Washington, D.C.'s top chefs, wineries and bartenders for an evening of culinary tastings, fine wine and entertainment. The evening will include silent and live auctions with unique dining packages, hotel stays and weekend getaways. The 2011 event co-chairs are former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib and his wife, Jean. The 2011 honorary chef is Robert Wiedmaier, Chef/Proprietor of Marcel’s, Brasserie Beck, Brabo, The Butcher’s Block and Mussel Bar. The 2011 Cocktail Chair is Jo-Jo Valenzuela, Bar Manager at Old Glory BBQ.

If you are interested in attending…

Please visit marchofdimes.com/marylandmetrodc/7665_28179.asp

to purchase a corporate table and tickets and to view a list of participating restaurants

Individual Table: $2,000 ($1,520 Tax-Deductible)

Individual Tickets: $200 ($152 Tax-Deductible)

Exclusive sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information,

please contact Nicole Vagnerini at NVagnerini@marchofdimes.com

If you would like to make a donation to the auction, please contact

Marjorie Rochon at MRochon@marchofdimes.com

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/signaturechefsauctiondc

NVagnerini@marchofdimes.com

MRochon@marchofdimes.com

2nd Annual Trail Run For Healthier Babies

Just in time for the holidays, we’ve got a race for you! Come out and take the Trail Run Challenge on November 5^th, 2011 in Gambrill State Park in Frederick, MD. 7 mile and 2 mile options. If you run fast enough, you could win a roundtrip ticket on Airtran. First place male and female finisher of the 7 mile Race each wins 1 roundtrip ticket! Register today!

Nancy Wiley, nwiley@marchofdimes.com

World Prematurity Day is November 17th

The global problem of premature birth

The March of Dimes White Paper on Preterm Birth: The Global & Regional Toll (.PDF) estimates that nearly 13 million babies worldwide are born preterm each year. Over one million of these babies die during the neonatal period due to complications of prematurity. Organizations of parents affected by a premature birth are raising awareness of the problem in their countries and taking important steps to help reduce mortality and associated disability among babies born preterm. March of Dimes is helping to bring leading parents' organizations together to collaborate on successful strategies for reducing the toll of preterm birth worldwide. Strategies include raising awareness of the problem, facilitating health care professional training and parent education and improving the quality of care for preterm babies.

Organizations currently working with the March of Dimes include:

· EFCNI (Europe)

· Little Big Souls (Austrlia)

· National Premmie Foundation (Africa)

Where the United States stands on prematurity

1 in 8 babies are born premature. Every year, more than half a million babies are born too soon in the United States. Our country’s premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years. That’s serious cause for concern.

Premature birth costs society more than $26 billion a year and takes a high toll on families. Babies born just a few weeks early are at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities. Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.

http://marchofdimesfamilyteams.blogspot.com/

Help Fight premature birth:

· Join us on face book and learn more about the problem.

· Show your support with others from all over the world

· Update your status.

Visit Facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay

Order Your Health Babies are Worth the Wait Tee-shirt.

The Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait T-shirts are now available to order from our vendor. These shirts are available in white or purple, short sleeve, regular or maternity style. To order individual shirts click here.

hkane@marchofdimes.com