Many thanks to Jennifer Abell for passing along the press release that appears below. It was a wonderful event and I was glad to participate.
Pictured left to right: Commissioner Candidate Mike Phillips, Candace Vaughn, Laura Spensieri, Board of Education Member Charles Carrington, Shane Meszaros,, Register of Wills Susie Bowles, Jenn Hemming,, Commissioner Candidate Rick Campbell, Delegate Peter Murphy, Amy Crouse, Commissioner Candidate Johnnie DeGiorgi, Julie Cooksey,, Commissioner Sam Graves, Board of Education Member Narain Mathur, March of Dimes volunteer Michelle Mulloy, Board of Education Member and Community Director for the March of Dimes Suburban Maryland Jennifer Abell, Clerk of Court Sharon Hancock. Not pictured Judge of the Orphan’s Court Frank Lancaster.
LAPLATA, Md. – Thanks to some local politicians, more babies in southern Maryland have a chance to be born healthy. On November 17 at the Greene Turtle in LaPlata local politicians volunteered to help bartend as well as to serve and bus tables for the numerous citizens that came out in force to support Prematurity Awareness Day and show their support for the smallest members of our community.
Politicians involved in the event included Delegate Peter Murphy, Commissioner Sam Graves, Board of Education Members Charles Carrington and Jennifer Abell, Register of Wills Susie Bowles, Clerk of Court Sharon Hancock, Judge of the Orphan’s Court Frank Lancaster, Commissioner Candidates for District 2 Rick Campbell, Mike Phillips, and Johnnie DeGiorgi, and Board of Education Candidate Narain Mathur. The Greene Turtle will be donating 10% of the day’s total sales to the March of Dimes to support research and programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. For example, St. Mary’s County Health Department is currently completing a one-year March of Dimes grant for $10,000 that is enabling them to distribute folic acid and educational materials through three specific clinics in the health department. In 2007, St. Mary’s County Health Department was awarded a $13,000 grant for home visitation and educational outreach using March of Dimes materials and programs for prenatal care, premature labor and smoking cessation.
“Giving the community an opportunity to help babies, while enjoying a nice dinner and conversing with the politicians is a great combination.” said Michelle Mulloy, March of Dimes Volunteer.
The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. In 2009 the March of Dimes issued a Report Card on Premature Birth, giving the nation a D and Maryland an F. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. 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.
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.