Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Community Service&

Outreach With

The March of Dimes

Sandre Mitchell, International Programs Coordinator

Dr. Alice Cryer-Sumler, Liaison for Sigma

Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Michelle Shafer, -

Director of Strategic Partnerships, March of

Dimes

The March of Dimes StoryWe’ve been inspired by families and babies for 77 years. We achieved victory over polio and then turned our attention more closely to birth defects and other infant health threats. We fund research and programs that help women have full-term pregnancies and help babies begin healthy lives.

The March of Dimes Mission

Fund researchto understand problems and

discover answers leading to

prevention and treatment.

Help moms have full-term pregnancies

andhealthy babies.

Support families by offering comfort when their baby needs help to

survive and thrive.

To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality

By partnering with the March of Dimes you help give all babies a healthy start. Here are ways you can Educate, Give and Serve to make a difference for babies everywhere.

Worldwide, every year, 15 million babies are born too soon. More than one million will not get to celebrate their first birthday. Babies who survive often have lifelong health problems. Educate yourself, your school and your community on the serious effects of preterm birth.The money you raise supports programs in your community and helps moms have healthy, full- term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies.

Across the world, babies need your help. From supporting local community events to providing hope for families, there are a variety of ways to make a difference for babies.

Educate

Give

Serve

Need more resources?We’re here to help, with everything from ideas to resources.

Contact your localMarch of Dimes Office. Visit marchofdimes.org or contact us

Addressing Disparities

• Babies born to Black women in the US are more than 11/2 times as likely to be born too early compared to babies born to White women.

• More than 1 in 6 Black infants are born premature compared to 1 in 9 for all babies.

• In 2011 in the US, the preterm birth rate for Black infants was 16.8 percent, compared to the national average of 11.7 percent.

Funds raised through

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.• Support families of premature

and sick babies

• Moms have full-term healthybabies

• Fund research to preventprematurity

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Every minute a baby is born too soon. Every day, 72 babies die due to preterm birth complications.

• Babies need your help! Prematurity is the #1 cause of death in newborns, and affects babies of all races and ethnicities.

• Nationally preterm birth rates for all racial and ethnic groups have declined in recent years. Despite a narrowing in the disparity, the preterm birth rate among Black women is more than 1.5 times the rate of non-Hispanic White women.

• The March of Dimes is concerned about inequities in health and health care that contribute to higher rates of preterm birth among different racial and ethnic groups and are funding innovative practices that address racial and ethnic disparities.

March of Dimes 2014 Premature Birth Report Card

where your money goesThe March of Dimes uses 77 cents of every dollar you raise in March for Babies to support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And your funds are used to bring comfort and information to families whose baby was born too soon, or sick.

Here are just some of the ways you’ve already helped:brain:

When a baby is born too soon, even by just a few weeks, the brain and other organs haven’t had time

to fully develop. Our researchers are working on ways to prevent

prematurity so that all babies get their important nine months.

smile:Every year, more than

6,800 babies are born with an oral cleft. Our researchers identified a gene responsible for the condition and

are working on preventions.

spine: Fewer babies are born with neural tube birth defects likespina bifida as a result of March

of Dimes folic acid educationand fortification campaigns.

lungs:Surfactant and nitric oxide therapies

now save the lives of tens of thousands of babies suffering from respiratory distress syndrome after they were born too soon.

eyes:Premature birth and certainbirth defects can lead to blindness. Scientists are studying the genetic causes of prematurity and developing treatments to cure vision defectslike retinitis pigmentosa.

heart:Heart defects affect 1 in every 100 babies and take more lives than any other birth defect.Our advances in diagnosis and surgical treatment mean better survival rates for the tiniest heart patients.

heel:Thanks to our volunteer advocacy efforts, most states now screen babies for 21 or more serious but treatable conditions. A tiny drop of blood from a newborn’sheel could save a life.

The Cost to Businesses

• On average, a premature baby costs your business 12 times as much as a healthy baby

• On average, employers pay $49,033 for medical costs for each premature baby during the first year

• Parents of premature babies require more time off resulting in reduced productivity for employers

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.2014 $100,000 Club Member

$154,071

$175,000

$140,000

$120,000

$100,000

$80,000

$60,000

$40,000

$20,000

$0

$160,000

$180,000

$200,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Sigma Gamma Rho March for Babies Donations

$106,452$94,933

$88,772

$57,689

$23,468

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.2015 Goal

Alumnae Chapters raise - $1922 Undergraduate Chapters raise - $192

Philo Affiliates raise - $42 each member Rhoer Club raise - $39 each member

Grand Total: $175,000

Step up!

• We need YOU to join March for Babies and leadyour chapter and district to success!

• Before you go to sleep tonight, say YES to joining our Sorority’s team at marchforbabies.org/sigmagammarho

Returning from a Previous Campaign?

• Log in by entering your Username and password in the top right hand corner of marchforbabies.org/sigmagammarho

• If you cannot remember your user name and password, click the Live Help icon - lower right hand side of the page and they can email it to you.

New to March for Babies?

•Visit marchforbabies.org/sigmagammarho

•Sign-up, after you finish filling out the form click join a team and follow the instruction.

Choose State

If team isn’t listed, find your local March of Dimes office at www.marchofdimes.org/contactus

Steps to Success• Register, fundraise and track progress at

marchforbabies.org/sigmagammarho• Use online tools• Personalize your page• Share a story• Ask in person• Send emails• Contact family members and friends• Contact your local cleaners, grocery store, beauty

salon, nail salon; etc.• Reach out through social media

Wear your colors and carry your chapter banner!

We need you, your family and friends to walk for March for Babies because….

•It a great cause

•A powerful event

•March for Babies you love, those that need help and those yet to be born

Thank You!

Sandre Mitchellsandre8421@aol.com

Dr. Alice Cryer-Sumler acryer-sumler@cox.net

Michelle Shafer mshafer@marchofdimes.org