Volume 7 Issue 2 Texas Chapter enewsletter Winter NICU Family Support Expanding in Texas Chapter 1

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1 Texas Chapter Newsletter Contents NICU Family Support Expanding in Texas Chapter 1 Volunteer Leadership Conference and March for Babies 2010 Kickoff 2 Texas Top Teams 2 Texas Top Family Teams and Top Walkers 3 Thanks to Multi-market Sponsors 4 Texas Health Resources 5 Dallas Division Texas Society Advisory Board visits NICU 5 Farmers Insurance Signature Chef Sponsorship 6 Tom Thumb Breakfast with a Champion 6 Arnold Palmer Recognition 6 Public Affairs Update 7 Prematurity Awareness 8 STRIPES Stores Fundraising 9 This newsletter is sponsored by Your Key to Better IT Performance Published by: Ernestine Pina-Sandoval Editor: Sonia Dewar

2 Texas Chapter Dad and big sister visit at Parkland Hospital NICU Dallas NICU Specialist Elizabeth Garza visiting family at University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin NICU Family Support Expanding in Texas Chapter One in every 10 babies born in the U.S. is admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) because of premature birth or another medical condition. The NICU hospitalization of a baby can be frightening, confusing and overwhelming for parents. In 2009, the Texas Chapter continued to increase outreach to families experiencing the trauma of having a baby in a NICU. NICU Family Support Signature Model programs are expanding to four cities across the state. The Signature Model program uses a March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist who provides information and comfort to families experiencing the crisis of having a baby in a NICU. NICU Family Support has grown from three sites in 2001 to its current status of 60 sites nationwide. Texas, in fact, leads the nation with the largest number of programs. By the end of 2009, the Texas Chapter will have five Signature Model NICU Family Support programs located in the following hospitals: Dallas - Parkland Health and Hospital System Austin - Seton Medical Center Austin - University Medical Center at Brackenridge Austin - Dell Children s Medical Center of North Texas Houston - The Woman s Hospital of Texas In addition to the signature model programs, the chapter is seeking to add NICU Family Support License programs in up to four hospitals by year end. This is a new model of NICU Family Support which is hospital-staffed and managed. Hospitals pay a licensing fee for the right to implement the program and receive training, ongoing technical assistance and quality assurance from March of Dimes. Volunteers and staff in Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth and Houston have secured over $600,000 since 2004 through foundations, corporate gifts and individuals to support NICU Family Support programs. Sikara & Co. Jewelers in Austin worked closely with NICU graduate parents and March of Dimes volunteers Rob and Elizabeth Fitzgerald to host a fundraising event benefiting two NICU Family Support programs in Austin. The Fitzgeralds have spearheaded the development of a NICU Family Support bereavement program for families. Also, Sikara & Co. Jewelers designed a special memorial heart pendant and necklace that is provided to families who experience the loss of a baby in the NICU and Labor and Delivery Departments at University Medical Center at Brackenridge and Seton Medical Center. For more information, visit marchofdimes.com/texas or Call

3 Texas Chapter Washington D.C. - October Volunteer Leadership Conference and March for Babies 2010 Kickoff Volunteer Leadershlp Conference Ron Gettelfinger and Alan Mulally accepted the role as 2010 National March for Babies Cochairs with a revenue commitment of $1 million. The two organizations have partnered to participate in March for Babies for a number of years as part of the historic partnership between the UAW and the big three automakers. Adel Tawfik, Top Walker (center) Left, Ron Gettelfinger, Pres. United Auto Workers, Right, Alan Mulally, Pres and CEO Ford Motor Company at the 2010 March for Babies Kickoff Also representing Texas at the kickoff and Volunteer Leadership Conference were Sabrina Midkiff and Dallas March for Babies Chair Chris Durovich and Amarillo March for Babies Chair Charles Leard. A Huge Thank You to Texas Top Teams March for Babies 2009 Ranking Team Total 1 Farmers Insurance Group $588,229 2 Citi $463,678 3 Macy's $441,175 4 Wells Fargo & Wachovia $352,562 5 Bank of America $341,590 6 H-E-B $281,702 7 HCA $269,942 8 Texas Health Resources $209,595 9 Stripes $189, ACE Cash Express $181,486 2

4 Texas Chapter A Huge Thank You to Texas Top Family Teams and Top Walkers March for Babies 2009 Ranking Family Teams Total 1 Team Schatzman $24,475 2 Team Bouchard $17,925 3 Team Grace - Dallas $14,785 4 Plano NICU Parents $13,956 5 The Woodlands Mothers of Multiples $13,459 6 Moya Triplets $12,443 7 Three Allen Miracles $11,226 8 Northwest Houston Mothers of Multiples - NWHMOM $10,715 9 Lane and Katie's Light $ 8, Rynes Rockstars $ 8,425 Ranking Top Walkers Total 1 Adel Tawfik KBR $47,353 2 Cedric Allen CB Richard Ellis $25,325 3 Rosemary Schatzman Team Schatzman $21,330 4 Michael Jines Reliant Energy $20,714 5 Butch & Krista Bouchard Team Bouchard $17,925 6 Walter Elcock Bank of America $15,000 7 Angela Kraybill March of Dimes $13,500 8 Ryan Cross Comerica $11,256 9 Brent Leafgreen Williams Gas Pipelines $10, Norman Wright Citi $ 9,555 3

5 Texas Chapter The Texas Chapter Thanks our 2009 Multi-market Sponsors Multi-market Sponsors Here s some of our friends from Macy s March for Babies Thanks to the enthusiastic Farmers team in Dallas Just a small group of the HEB Partners-March for Babies team H-E-B San Antonio Great show of support from Citi at the San Antonio March for Babies 4

6 Texas Chapter Texas Health Resources provides top-level support to the March of Dimes Senior Executive VP Barclay Berdan Martha Hawthorne CEO Doug Hawthorne Dallas Division Texas Society Advisory Board toured NICU at Children s Medical Center Chaired by Former First Lady Rita Clements Left to right: Trudy Best, Margot Perot, Maria Martineau Plankinton, Amanda Goldstein, Paula Ransom, March of Dimes State Director, Sara Martineau, Julie Whitsitt, Dallas Division Executive Director 5

7 Texas Chapter Farmers is proud to support the March of Dimes. Our agents, district managers and employees raise millions of dollars every year because we believe in giving back to the community. So here s a toast... To healthier babies now and in the future. Throughout the fall, chefs from around the great State of Texas prepared five-star culinary creations and extraordinary auction packages that were enjoyed at 13 Signature Chef events across the Chapter. Guests relished the opportunity to sample incredible dishes, fine wines and bid on chefs auction packages. What a great occasion to indulge while raising money to help babies. This year we are excited to announce the first multi-market Signature Chefs sponsor, Farmers Insurance. Thank you Farmers Insurance for your continued support of the March of Dimes. This year we were proud to feature NFL Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman as guest speakers at the Dec 2 Breakfast With A Champion held in Dallas. Gary Dixon, State Executive Committee Member and National Board of Trustees Member, visits with golf legend Arnold Palmer at his home in Pennsylvania to present Mr. Palmer with a leather-bound memory book featuring photos of Mr. Palmer with all of the past ambassador children with whom he worked. For the past 14 years, Breakfast With A Champion has raised more than 1.5 million dollars to support the March of Dimes and its mission to save babies. Roger Staubach Troy Aiken 6

8 Texas Chapter Public Affairs Update Federal Legislative Update State Director of Public Affairs Morgan Sanders, State Public Affairs Chair Dr. Charleta Guillory, Congressman Gene Green, State Public Affairs Committee Member Sabrina Midkiff and State Public Affairs Vice Chair Tom Watkins. State Legislative Update The 81st Legislative Session ended on June 1. March of Dimes secured several major legislative wins. $5.2 million to implement newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF), which is the last disorder to be added in Texas and part of the 29 disorders for which all newborns should be screened $1.9 million for the Texas Birth Defects Registry Protected the mandate for cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening that was passed during the 2005 legislative session Secured legislation that allows the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to keep the newborn screening blood spots, with parental permission Secured legislation that allows the state s newborn screening lab to issue an emergency contract with another state to conduct the state s newborn screening program should there be a disaster Secured $2.9 million, to be spent in the next four years, for the Laboratory at Department of State Health Services to contract for a courier system for certain areas of Texas Thank you to the State Public Affairs Committee for your determination and advocacy efforts for moms and children in Texas. In early October, the Texas Chapter participated in the March of Dimes National Hill Day in Washington, D.C. Texas staff and volunteers met with eight members of Congress who represent the Lone Star State. March of Dimes volunteers urged members of Congress to support research, prevention and services to improve the health and to support health reform for women and children. Although, at the time, the U.S. House of Representatives had already passed their version of the 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, we urged House members to keep in mind some key issues related to research, prevention and services when they pass the final version of the bill. These included: Expand support for the National Institutes of Health Fully fund the next phase of the National Children s Study Increase support for birth defects and prematurity-related research and other public health activities, such as immunization, which are sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Support newborn screening and other essential public health programs funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration Make sure to stay up-to-date on March of Dimes advocacy efforts by subscribing to the Texas Chapter Advocacy Network. advocatetexas@marchofdimes.com Also, you can now follow March of Dimes Office of Government Affairs on Twitter at 7

9 Texas Chapter Khambrel Marshall, KPRC, LOCAL 2-TV News emceed the Press Conference held at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in the Texas Medical Center on Prematurity Awareness Day. Khambrel interviewed Dr. Larry Kaiser, president of the UT Health Science Center at Houston, the incoming Chairman of March for Babies 2010 (left) and Presenting Sponsor for March for Babies 2010 Dan Wolterman, president and CEO Memorial Hermann Healthcare System (right). With over 100 attendees present, Khambrel addressed the National Report Card Poor Grade for Texas regarding premature births and encouraged everyone to support fundraising efforts in 2010 to help achieve even greater cutting-edge research. November National Prematurity Awareness Month Because some little feet need a hand. March of Dimes is leading a national effort to give every baby a strong and healthy start in life. Tuesday, November 17th, marked the 7th Annual National Prematurity Awareness Day which focused the nation s attention on the growing problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation). The Texas Chapter held twelve major events across the state to raise awareness of the crisis of preterm birth. These events included workshops, presentations, press conferences, family events and more. You can still join the effort. Go to: to: Give: Buy a virtual wristband in honor of a child Do: Join March of Dimes national advocacy network; and Learn: View March of Dimes 2009 Premature Birth Report Card (released on Nov. 17) and other important information. 8

10 Texas Chapter A very special March of Dimes Texas thanks to STRIPES Stores for their December fundraising campaign benefitting Texas Babies For Texas communications or marketing opportunities, contact epinasandoval@marchofdimes.com 9