1. 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

2. The March of Dimes Story
We’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.

3. The March of Dimes Mission
To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality
Fund research
to understand problems and discover answers leading to prevention and treatment.
Help moms have full-term pregnancies and
healthy babies.
Support families by offering comfort when their baby needs help to
survive and thrive.

4. Educate Give Serve Need more resources?
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.
Educate
Give
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.
Serve
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.
Need more resources?
We’re here to help, with everything from ideas to resources. Contact your local
March of Dimes Office. Visit marchofdimes.org or contact us

5. 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.

6. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Funds raised through
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Support families of premature and sick babies
Moms have full-term healthy
babies
Fund research to prevent
prematurity

7. march0 ot dimes'" $26.2 billion Education Support Advocacy Research
Ou r websites provide the latest pregna ncy health information in Eng­ l ish and Spanish .
Ou r health experts
provide personal
answers to moms1
questions.
Support
In hospitals and through our online community, vve
offer information and comfort to famil ies vvith a nevvborn in intensive care.
Advocacy
VVe advocate for
programs that help
moms get care and
services to improve
th eir h ealth and the health of their babies.
Research
\Ne research the serious problems
that threaten our
babies and vvork on treating and
preventing them.
Community
Our programs help moms-to-be h ave full-term pregnancies and h ealth y babies.
every year...
working 'toge'ther for s'tronger1 heal'thier babies
Al most every baby receives a pol o vaccine developed with funding by the March of Dimes. Children in the Unit:ed States are vaccinated against 14 diseases.
Each year about 16,000 babies rece ive lifesaving surfactant: therapy developed vvith f u ndi ng by the M arch of Dimes.
Babies receive screening for at least inherited disorders. We funded the development of 4 of these tests and advocated for newborn screening for
al l babies.
Preventing premature birth could mean an annua l saving of up to:
$26.2
billion
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8. Every minute a baby is born too soon
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.

9. March of Dimes 2014 Premature Birth Report Card

10. where your money goes
The 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.
eyes:
Premature birth and certain
birth defects can lead to blindness. Scientists are studying the genetic causes of prematurity and developing treatments to cure vision defects
like retinitis pigmentosa.
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.
heart:
Heart defects affect 1 in every 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.
spine: Fewer babies are born with neural tube birth defects like
spina bifida as a result of March
of Dimes folic acid education
and 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.
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’s
heel could save a life.

11. 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

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

13. Sigma Gamma Rho March for Babies Donations
$200,000
$175,000
$180,000
$106,452
$94,933
$88,772
$57,689
$23,468
$160,000
$154,071
$140,000
$120,000
$100,000
$80,000
$60,000
$40,000
$20,000 $0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015

14. 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

15. Step up! We need YOU to join March for Babies and lead
your chapter and district to success!
Before you go to sleep tonight, say YES to joining our Sorority’s team at marchforbabies.org/sigmagammarho

16. 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 it to you.

17. 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.

18. Choose State

19. If team isn’t listed, find your local March of Dimes office at www
If team isn’t listed, find your local March of Dimes office at

20. 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 s
Contact family members and friends
Contact your local cleaners, grocery store, beauty salon, nail salon; etc.
Reach out through social media

21. Wear your colors and carry your chapter banner!

22. 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

23. Thank You! Sandre Mitchell sandre8421@aol.com
Dr. Alice Cryer-Sumler
Michelle Shafer