connecticut chapter – prematurity awareness month november 2015 Thousands Will Raise Their Voices for Babies This November Upcoming Events 2015 World Prematurity Day Tuesday, November 17 Real Estate Award Breakfast Thursday, December 3 The Hilton, Stamford Registration for March for Babies 2016 is now open at marchforbabies.org . Connecticut Chapter Office 500 Winding Brook Drive, Suite 8 Glastonbury, CT 06033 860-815-9365 [email protected]marchofdimes.org/ct Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram November is Prematurity Awareness Month and in Connecticut, 1 in 10 babies is born too soon (more than 3,500 babies a year). After decades of increases, the rate of premature birth in the United States has now been on a steady decline for the last several years. This decline – to 9.6 percent today – has saved thousands of babies from being born too soon. It also has saved our nation billions of dollars in excess health care costs. Since the March of Dimes launched its Prematurity Campaign in 2003, donors, volunteers and researchers have achieved many important milestones in the fight against premature birth, including: The Prematurity Research Initiative, which funds promising, innovative research into the causes of prematurity. Nearly $17.4 million has been awarded to 55 grantees over the past 6 years, and the program has already produced promising discoveries. Five Prematurity Research Centers in California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, St. Louis and Illinois to lead team-centered research to integrate scientists from individual disciplines to form innovative collaborations that can accelerate research discoveries. The PREEMIE (Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers Who Deliver Infants Early) Act, which upon being made law in 2006, authorizes increased federal support for research and education on prematurity. For more information about the progress and impact of the Prematurity Campaign, visit our web site . * *Credit: marchofdimes.org
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connecticut chapter – prematurity awareness month
november 2015
Thousands Will Raise Their Voices for Babies This November
November is Prematurity Awareness Month and in Connecticut, 1 in 10 babies is born too soon (more than 3,500 babies a year). After decades of increases, the rate of premature birth in the United States has now been on a steady decline for the last several years. This decline – to 9.6 percent today – has saved thousands of babies from being born too soon. It also has saved our nation billions of dollars in excess health care costs.
Since the March of Dimes launched its Prematurity Campaign in 2003, donors, volunteers and researchers have achieved many important milestones in the fight against premature birth, including:
The Prematurity Research Initiative, which funds promising, innovative research into the causes of prematurity. Nearly $17.4 million has been awarded to 55 grantees over the past 6 years, and the program has already produced promising discoveries.
Five Prematurity Research Centers in California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, St. Louis and Illinois to lead team-centered research to integrate scientists from individual disciplines to form innovative collaborations that can accelerate research discoveries.
The PREEMIE (Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers Who Deliver Infants Early) Act, which upon being made law in 2006, authorizes increased federal support for research and education on prematurity.
For more information about the progress and impact of the Prematurity Campaign, visit our web site. *
Just how can you help this November to support Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity day on November 17th? Check out this list of suggestions and share:
Pledge Purple for PreemiesPledge your support online for preemies around the world and you’ll receive tools, images, messaging and more that you can use to help raise awareness.
Go PurplePurple is the color that represents our cause —premature birth. Light a high-traffic area (lobby, cafeteria, parking lot) or the exterior of your building.
Get started: Purchase purple lights, available at many retailers; however, the March of Dimesbenefits from purchases made through Amazon Smile. Go to smile.amazon.com,select March of Dimes, and use the search term “purple lights.” Amazon will donate 0.5%of the price of your purchases to the March of Dimes.
Give One, Get OneKangaroo care in the NICU is vital to baby’s overall health. The skin-to-skin contact with mom or dad provides comfort and positive health benefits. In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month, purchase a purple plush kangaroo and the March of Dimes will give one to a family in a NICU. Purchase here.
Share Your StorySend your NICU and Now photos with a brief description to the Connecticut Chapter and we’ll share your images on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Wear Your Purple PrideWorld Prematurity Day t-shirts are now available! Purchase yours today and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes.
Like, Tweet, Comment and SharePost about prematurity on social media!
Use hashtags like #worldprematurityday, #NICUtoNow, #marchofdimes and more to follow the conversation.
Connecticut earned a “B” on the 2015 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, which for the first time graded the state’s most populated cities and revealed persistent disparities between communities and among racial and ethnic groups.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2014 Connecticut’s preterm birth rate was 9.2 percent, and the national preterm birth rate was 9.6 percent, both meeting the March of Dimes 2020 goal of 9.6 percent early.
The organization’s Board of Trustees has set a new and higher preterm birth standard of 8.1 percent by 2020 and 5.5 percent by 2030 for the 2015 Premature Birth Report Card. Reaching the March of Dimes 2020 goal of 8.1 percent will mean that 210,000 fewer babies will be born preterm, and achieving the 2030 goal will mean 1.3 million fewer babies will be born preterm, saving nearly $70 billion, the March of Dimes estimates.
november 2015
Connecticut Receives B on Premature Birth Report Card
Of note on the report card are communities within Connecticut that are trailing behind the state’s rate. Bridgeport, Hartford, Stamford and Waterbury all had higher preterm birth rates than the statewide rate. The preterm birth rate in New Haven, by comparison, is encouraging, with a better-than-state rate of 9.1 percent.
Connecticut ranked 11th on the disparity index with a score of 18 to indicate the gaps between racial and ethnic groups in its preterm birth rate.
“This detailed information will show us where we have the greatest need and allow us to meet the unique needs of each community,” said Christopher Morosky, MD, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Ob-Gyn at UConn Health Center, and co-chair, Program Services Committee for the March of Dimes Connecticut Chapter.
For more information about the Connecticut and U.S. report cards, visit marchofdimes.org/reportcard.
Donors Raise Record $115,000 at Signature Chefs Auction
More than 350 guests came together at The Riverview in Simsbury on October 15th for the 19th annual Signature Chefs Auction and raised an event-record $115,000.
Kate Sirignano of Southington served as the 2015 event chair and moved the crowd with her own mission story. Her son, Anthony, was born 15 weeks early and weighed less than two pounds. He spent 112 days in a local NICU before finally coming home. During the event’s “Fund the Mission” program, guests donated
Six Honored as Elm City Legends
An evening to honor Greater New Haven champions in the field of athletics and/or community service, in eight years Elm City Legends has raised more than $400,000 in support of the March of Dimes mission to give all babies a healthy start.
On October 29th, the Chapter was proud to honor six individuals as the Class of 2015 Elm City Legends:
Michelle Gray, March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist in the neonatal intensive care unit at Yale-New Haven Children’s HospitalNew Haven Mayor Toni Harp
$25,000 in support of Anthony’s story and the March of Dimes mission to give every baby a healthy start.
“I am humbled and grateful for the support shown for Anthony and the March of Dimes at Signature Chefs Auction,” said Sirignano. “I look forward to working with our volunteers and sponsors to raise the bar even higher next year for our 20th anniversary.”
The Pepe Family/Pepe’s PizzeriaDr. Robert Touloukian, former chief of Pediatric Surgery at Yale-New Haven Children’s HospitalBarbara and Don Tonry, Yale men and women’s gymnastics
During the evening, more than 200 guests not only honored the six Legends, but enjoyed a lively auction and cuisine and beverages from many local New Haven establishments. Donors helped to raise $50,000!
Photos are now online on Facebook – please tag and share to thank and honor our Elm City Legends.
Real Estate Award Breakfast Chair Celebrates 15 Years
The March of Dimes Connecticut Chapter is proud to acknowledge Ed Tonnessen, chair of the Real Estate Award Breakfast, for 15 years of volunteer service.
The annual breakfast, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Stamford on December 3rd, has raised nearly $6 million in support of the March of Dimes, and for 15 years, Tonnessen has led a dynamic volunteer committee which leads sponsorship and ticket sale efforts. The event has become the industry event of the year in Fairfield County, bringing together 700 area professionals each year.
Tonnessen is a Managing Director for Brokerage at Jones Lang LaSalle in Stamford, CT, leading the tenant representation and agency leasing practices in Fairfield County and Westchester County. He creates and manages strategic negotiations of acquisitions and dispositions for local, national and international clients that own and lease real estate in Fairfield County and Westchester County.
Get to Know Us – Christine Chalfant, Community DirectorWhen did you join the March of Dimes and why did you want to be a part of the organization? I’ve been at the March of Dimes since June, and I wanted to be part of the organization to make a difference not only in the babies lives that we help, but the families as well.
What is one of your most inspiring March of Dimes moments? My most inspiring moment was my first visit to the NICU. I was able to meet with some of the families and babies we were helping and hear their stories. It validated my work, and made me want to work even harder for them.
My favorite March of Dimes event is March for Babies.
Outside of the office, how do you like to spend your time? I enjoy spending time with my dog, Kyra, and boyfriend in our new home. I also enjoy traveling, especially to Charleston, SC to visit my family.
Christine can be reached in the Glastonbury office at 860-815-9360 or by email.
