Walk raises $850K+ for March of Dimes
About 5,000 walkers helped put the March of Dimes’ Broward County division on track to meet its $889,000 fundraising goal.
The recent March for Babies at Nova Southeastern University in Davie raised more than $850,000, and organizers hope the ongoing campaign will put them over the top.
“We credit the event’s success to our family and corporate teams for engaging their friends, neighbors and employees to reach our goals,” said Randy Gross, event chairman and CEO of Plantation General Hospital. “… It’s amazing to see so many people come together to raise money to prevent prematurity and to help parents in need when they deliver a premature baby.”
Proceeds will support efforts to prevent prematurity and improve patient care for premature babies and their mothers.
Gabriela Dreyfuss, husband Jeffrey and son Jonah served as the event’s Ambassador Family.
She recounted the difficulties surrounding Jonah’s birth at 31 weeks in 2013 at Plantation General. He spent 54 days in the neonatal intensive care unit and an additional six days in prenatal intensive care. Born with a congenital heart defect, he underwent heart surgery soon after birth.
Dreyfuss, of Weston, credits the March of Dimes for funding research that has helped many premature babies.
“They really wrote the book on how the NICU works, how a lot of treatments should be handled and how medical staffs should be trained,” she said.
Although Jonah is still catching up developmentally and receiving follow-up care, Dreyfuss said, “He’s doing great and making progress.”
The nonprofit funds research, education and vaccines and provides women educational resources on baby health, pregnancy, preconception and new motherhood.
In recent years, the March of Dimes has launched several prematurity research centers and supported research into the cellular and molecular basis of genetic diseases, developmental processes and abnormalities.
“Every baby deserves a healthy start in life,” Dreyfuss said.
For more information, visit Marchofdimes.org/florida or call Valerie Vitale at 754300-2602.