HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Dear friend of the March of Dimes,

During this holiday season, I would like to take the time to let you know how thankful I am for dedicated volunteers and supporters like you. Without you, our organization would not have near the impact that we are able to have in our Southeast Texas Division. Volunteers are the life of the March of Dimes and we are very fortunate to be able to serve with you. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday !

Donna Blanchette Beth Mlcak

Southeast Texas Division

MEDIA ALERT: National Prematurity Awareness Day

WHAT: Every year, thousands of Southeast Texas families find themselves faced with the challenges of an unexpected premature birth of a son or daughter. In Texas, one in every seven babies is born premature. It is a crisis that has increased nationally by 36 percent during the last 25 years. National Prematurity Awareness Day is Tuesday, November 17th. A news conference will be held featuring Brent W. Bost, M.D. and Lauree L. Thompson, M.D. with CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth. They will discuss premature birth in Southeast Texas and the toll it is taking on our infants. The parents of a graduate of the CHRISTUS Hospital - St. Elizabeth Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will also speak and be available to answer questions. Physicians are issuing a challenge to the Southeast Texas Community to support the March of Dimes
in their efforts to find a cure for premature birth and to
support families affected by it. By participating in the
2010 March for Babies, we will stand together to raise
awareness and support for research to tackle this crisis.

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 17
10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

WHERE: CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth
Board Room
2830 Calder Street, Beaumont, TX 77702

WHY: Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today, affecting more than half a million babies each year. The March of Dimes will announce its annual Report Card on Premature Birth during the news conference. In 2008, Texas received an F. The March of Dimes is committed to improving that score by funding research to find the answers to premature birth, helping women have a healthy pregnancy, and providing comfort and information to families whose children are born prematurely.


INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
Lauree L. Thompson, M.D.
Brent W. Bost, M.D.
Donna Blanchette, Division Director, March of Dimes
Families who have had a baby in the NICU and been impacted by the mission of the March of Dimes




B-ROLL/ PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:
CHRISTUS Hospital - St. Elizabeth Neonatal Intensive Care Unit prior to or following the news conference.

The March of Dimes Office has Moved

The March of Dimes local SETX office has moved! We are now located in the Foundation for Southeast Texas building downtown. ( 700 North St. Ste K, Beaumont, Texas 77701 ) This is a great blessing for the March of Dimes. The Foundation building is an office for nonprofit organizations.

"The mission of the Foundation for Southeast Texas shall be to make a positive difference in the quality of life in the area by encouraging philanthropic gifts and by assisting donors in achieving their charitable goals through the professional management and considered and caring distribution of such gifts."

However, we have limited access to email and phone at this time. Please know that your questions and calls are important to us. Voicemail and email will be checked multiple times, on a daily basis. Please be patient with us through our transition.

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month

In Texas today, 1 in 7 babies is born prematurely. More newborns die from premature birth than any other cause.

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month.
November 17th is National Prematurity Awareness Day.
Please join the Fight for Preemies this November!

In an average week in Texas:

1,050
babies are born preterm
(less than 37 completed
weeks of pregnancy)

49
babies die before reaching their first birthday



In Texas…
· In 2006, there were 54,612 preterm births—13.7% of live births.

· Between 1996 and 2006, the rate of infants born preterm increased 17%.

In the United States…
· In 2005, the annual societal economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth was at least $26.2 billion.

Throughout the month of November, prematurity awareness events showcasing March of Dimes programs that are reducing the occurrence of premature births will be held all across Texas. For more information, please contact your local March of Dimes office. 409-835-7606


Together, we must continue to work hard to give every baby a strong and healthy start!



www.marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies

Give: Buy a virtual wristband in honor of or in memory of a child.
Do: Join our national advocacy network!
Learn: View National Report Card on
Prematurity and other important information.

March of Dimes Awards Dedicated CHRISTUS Employees

March of Dimes Awards Dedicated CHRISTUS Employees
Dr. Lauree Thompson and Melissa Ames, R.N. are recipient of the
2009 March of Dimes Excellence in Perinatal Care Awards

BEAUMONT, TEXAS October 13, 2009 – There are several items missing from the job description of Neonatologist and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse. They include helping families with a baby in the NICU find necessary community resources, easing the fears of families about the health of their baby, and helping parents to be engaged in the care of their newborn. Dr. Lauree Thompson and Melissa Ames, R.N. demonstrate each of these every day in their work with families. Dr. Thompson, Assistant Medical Director for the Neonatal Nurseries at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital’s fellow employees state: “Dr. Thompson exemplifies respect to others and their needs. She assists nurses and patients in any way needed to provide excellent care.” Her dedication earned Dr. Thompson the 2009 March of Dimes Perinatal Physician Excellence Award. Melissa’s colleagues describe her as: “A patient advocate who strives for excellence daily”. Melissa continually goes above and beyond to provide the very best care for her patients. She was presented with the 2009 March of Dimes Excellence in Perinatal Nursing Award. Dr. Thompson and Melissa Ames were both honored by March of Dimes and their colleagues at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth on Tuesday October 13th.

For more information on March of Dimes in the Beaumont area and how you can become involved, call Donna Blanchette at 409-835-7606.

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.

20th Anniversary ExxonMobil March of Dimes Golf Tournament

The Southeast Texas Division of the March of Dimes hosted the 20th Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by ExxonMobil on September 14, 2009. The golf tournament was held at the Beaumont Country Club with 2 tee times; 7:00 AM and 12:30 PM.

Leading the mission to save babies and helping to raise funds for the March of Dimes is Glenn Bodwin with ExxonMobil. Bodwin has served as Event Chair for the past 20 years setting a record of $110,000 for 2009 bringing the total to $1,355,000 for all 20 years.

Committee members included in picture: Glenn Bodwin;Christina Phelps, Mobiloil Federal Credit Union; Denise Oliphant, ExxonMobil; Mike Sculley, Kirkse's Sprint Printing; Steve Gomez, ExxonMobil Pipeline; Melinda McNeely, Kelly Services, Inc.; Donna Rogers , March of Dimes; Randy Moncla, Moncla’s Catering; Dan Caywood, DCS Texas/NGS.

Commttee Members not shown in the picture: Beth Mlcak, March of Dimes; John & Jan Ray.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes carries out this mission through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy.

March of Dimes Executive Leadership Program

We are pleased to announce that March of Dimes will be launching an Executive Leadership Program this fall for its volunteer leaders as an outgrowth of the results of our annual volunteer leadership survey. The program, which will be presented by our Volunteer Leadership Institute, will include a series of webinar programs designed to supercharge your March of Dimes knowledge in all areas of the Foundation’s operations. In anticipation of the launch of the program, we invite you to join us for some upcoming preview webinars outlined below.

To register for a webinar, please click the link below. Please use the following number for the audio portion of the call: 800-411-7650 then dial code 142837#. For further information or questions, please contact vli@marchofdimes.com. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Making Community Partnerships Work
Tuesday, October 13th from 3 PM – 4 PM EDT
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/821083649
This workshop will share lessons learned about community engagement and partnership formation with diverse populations in order to create effective community programs. Understand group processes for community engagement, applying principles of cultural sensitivity.

National Orientation Program
Friday, October 16th from 3 PM – 4 PM EDT
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/613053240
This presentation provides a snapshot orientation of the March of Dimes mission, organizational structure, programs, and fundraising strategies.

The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation Partners with March of Dimes as Presenting Sponsor

BEAUMONT , TEXAS – September 25, 2009 – In challenging economic times, the work of non-profit organizations plays an even more important role in helping people maintain their health and get the services they need.
The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation has become the first 2010 Presenting Sponsor of March for Babies, the March of Dimes’ biggest fundraising event. March of Dimes is proud to partner with Wells Fargo, because more than a half million babies – one out of every eight – are born too soon each year due to premature birth and the numbers have risen steadily. Through funds raised by March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to help women have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies, reducing health costs to employers.
"Business leaders and employers recognize March of Dimes as a worthy cause with real impact on their employees, their cost of doing business and their communities," said Rudy Beeching, Southeast Texas Market President. "With the support of the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation and the business community the March of Dimes is working to find the causes of preterm birth and helping every baby be born healthy and strong."
Today - most of the causes of preterm birth remain unknown. For this reason, support for the March of Dimes by community partners is of vital importance. There is an urgent purpose for life-saving research according to the March of Dimes and it is imperative that communities continue to work toward healthy babies. Continued thanks is given to the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation, by the Texas and Golden Triangle March of Dimes for their unwavering commitment to fund the March of Dimes research efforts into 2010.
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. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com/texas or nacersano.org.