Slide1: Saving Babies, Building Leaders marchofdimes.com/youth


Our Mission : Our Mission Each day, babies are born fighting for their lives. And every day, the March of Dimes helps them win. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.


A History of Success: A History of Success Polio Vaccine Establishment of NICUs Fetal Surgery PKU Test Surfactant Nitric Oxide Birth Defects Prevention Act State Children’s Health Insurance Program(S-CHIP)


Unfinished Business: Unfinished Business Half a million babies are born prematurely each year. That's 1,367 babies each and every day. Thirteen babies die every day as a result of prematurity/low birthweight One in 8 babies in the United States is born prematurely


The Prematurity Campaign: The Prematurity Campaign A multimillion-dollar research, awareness and education campaign to help families have healthier babies Goal 1: Raise Awareness of Problem of Prematurity from 60 % among women of childbearing age and from 50 % among the general public by 2010 Goal 2: Reduce Rate of Premature Births from 12.1 % in 2002 to 7.6% in 2010 For more information, visit: www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity


What is Team Youth? : What is Team Youth? Team Youth is all the youth volunteers, including all national youth partners, of the March of Dimes. Team Youth provides development opportunities for students nationwide, while supporting the mission of the March of Dimes. This is accomplished by ensuring young volunteers have access to: age-appropriate and mission-relevant health education information; community, state, and national leadership opportunities; and customized fundraising activities that are fun and rewarding.


Team Youth includes:: Team Youth includes: All youth volunteers, ages 5 to 23 High school students in the Chain Reaction Programs College students in Collegiate Councils Youth members of state, chapter, and division Boards Youth members of state Public Affairs Committees National Youth Council All March of Dimes National Youth Partners …


March of Dimes National Youth Partners: March of Dimes National Youth Partners America’s Promise FBLA-PBL FCCLA Key Club (Kiwanis, high school) Circle K (Kiwanis, college) Delta Sigma Phi Gamma Sigma Sigma Top Ladies of Distinction, Top Teens of America


The Essential Role of Youth in the MOD : The Essential Role of Youth in the MOD Increasing awareness about the growing problem of premature birth Promoting folic acid consumption during child bearing years Supporting smoking cessation initiatives Lobbying for policies that benefit women and children Organizing fundraising events to further the mission Participating on state and local advisory boards (chapter and division boards of directors)


What the March of Dimes Offers Youth: What the March of Dimes Offers Youth Enriching and enduring lifelong experiences through opportunities to: Build leadership skills Network among like-minded student leaders nationwide Give back to communities and make a difference locally Become involved in meaningful civic engagement, including advocating for local and national policies Be educated about a healthy lifestyle today and in future Earn community service credits and enhance resume Develop public speaking skills while building character and self-confidence


FUNDRAISING: FUNDRAISING Some of the more popular ways in which youth raise funds for the foundation include: WalkAmerica, and other Walks Coinstar Program Coin Banks WonderWalk/WalkMania Two Colors, One Cause Ribbon Pins Tye-Dye Wristbands for Awareness (wearable bracelets + virtual bands)


Youth and WalkAmerica: Youth and WalkAmerica Youth teams raised more than $7 million in WalkAmerica 2005, a 12% increase over 2004 As many as 1 in 3 Walkers are Youth Top 3 youth Walk teams in 2005 raised more than $2 million


Walks for All Ages: Walks for All Ages WonderWalk is a fundraiser just for younger children, age 5-7: children are sponsored to walk around their playground or school for the MOD WalkMania is just for kids ages 8- 12: kids walk around school or soccer field WalkAmerica is for teenagers to adults: held in a city or at a town park For materials and information, contact your local chapter or visit: www.walkamerica.org


Coinstar: Coinstar Most of the 11,000 Coinstar machines nationwide accept donations for the March of Dimes by entering the code, 1-2-3-0 Check www.coinstar.com for a participating machine near you. Note: Coinstar charges a 7.5% administrative fee for charitable donations All funds raised by machines in a local chapter are distributed back to that chapter


Coin Box Collections: Coin Box Collections Coin boxes can be used by students to raise funds at any time of year, as part of WalkAmerica, or a separate fundraiser The milk carton-shaped boxes can hold up to $100 in quarters. Any container can be used For March of Dimes coin boxes, contact your local chapter.


Awareness Ribbon Pins: Awareness Ribbon Pins Can be sold in schools, in communities, as an after school activity, etc. To obtain pins, look for the Ribbon image on the Team Youth Website and download the order form: Go to: www.marchofdimes.com/youth Click on “Get Awareness Ribbons”


Wristbands for Awareness : Wristbands for Awareness Can be sold in schools, in communities, after school, etc. To obtain wristbands, go to: www.marchofdimes.com/youth Click on “Activities” icon Select the “Wristbands for Awareness order form” To create your own personalized virtual hospital band, go to the Prematurity Campaign site and click on “BandingTogether” : www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity


HEALTH EDUCATION: HEALTH EDUCATION Topics of the Teen-2-Teen DVDs and Videos: Healthy Lifestyle Alcohol Smoking Drugs Audience: Middle School and High School students To see a preview, visit: www.marchofdimes.com/youth For a copy, email: TeamYouth@marchofdimes.com


PUBLIC AFFAIRS: PUBLIC AFFAIRS Youth serve an important role in March of Dimes Public Affairs activities: Members of chapter/division Public Affairs Committees Members of the Advocacy Network NYC representative to National Public Affairs Committee Plan and participate in lobby day at state capitol Attend district meetings with state legislators and congressional delegation Conduct voter registration drives Promote MOD Youth Internship on campus Investigate public affairs career opportunities (serving as an elected official; working in public policy development, lobbying, government)


Slide21: National Youth Conference 2005 in Washington, DC


For more information: For more information Visit: www.marchofdimes.com/youth Email: TeamYouth@marchofdimes.com