Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers that have been impacted by premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality. This holiday is in many ways harder for us than for the “ordinary” mom. Many of us have been through the fires and the storms of motherhood pretty early in our journeys as moms. I’d like to share 3 poems about being a mom with you. Hopefully you’ll find one that you relate to and enjoy it as much as I have.

Many of us have a hard time on Mother’s Day because our children are not with us today. Some people don’t even consider us mothers because our children did not survive. This day is many times painful for us because we ARE mothers, we DO have children. Even if we can’t hold them in our arms, we hold them in our hearts forever. On Mother’s Day, there is great focus on those daughters that have mothers in heaven but little or no mention of those of us with sons and daughters in heaven. If you know a mom that has lost a child, please give her a special hug on Mother’s Day and let her know how special she is. We may not be “ordinary” moms but we ARE moms just the same and we love our children dearly.

"The Busiest Day In Heaven"

It's the busiest day in Heaven
I'm planning a big surprise
To let you know I love you
And that no one ever diesEven though your down below
And I am up above
I'm sending you my wishes
And all my angel love

It's really quite exciting
To plan this big event
For lots of gifts will come your way
And all are Heaven sent

First I'll take a bubble bath-
My splashes might cause some rain
But knowing all the fun I'm having
Will help to ease your pain

Next I'll get some pictures
In my halo and gown
So when you get to Heaven
You can show me all around

I have color crayons in Heaven
And I will draw some stars so bright
And place them in the sky today
For you to see tonight

Then Jesus will have story time
And I will sit upon his lap
He'll tell me all about you
Just before I nap

I'll awake full of energy
And play a game or two
Before I finish sending
All my love to you

After snack I'll write a song
For all the birds to sing
And know I've made you happy
With all the joy it brings

At night time I'll be tired
But I'll still hold you tight
My arms will wrap around you
And keep you through the night

And when you finally slumber
I will kneel and pray
Asking God to bless you
On this special Mothers Day

Love,
Your Little Angel

To mothers of preemies, Mother’s Day carries special meaning because our children came too early like unexpected visitors to our door. We were just starting to prepare for these little people to enter our lives but we didn’t have the nursery ready, we didn’t have all the supplies we needed, and we had no idea that the hardships of motherhood would come so early on. I’m sure we all heard stories while we were pregnant about how hard being a mom can be, how toddlers will keep you running and how teenagers might break our hearts. We knew to be prepared for that but nothing in a pregnancy book could prepare us for the NICU journey we were about to take. We had no idea that it could be days, weeks, or even months before we could hold our children. We didn’t know that when our children were the sickest, we couldn’t hold them at all. We didn’t know that we could not give them their 1st bath, their 1st bottle, or many other firsts we would miss with them. We weren’t prepared for the fact we would need to learn how to feed them from a feeding tube, stimulate them to breathe when they stopped, or that we wouldn’t hear them cry for months in many cases. Many people tried to reassure me by saying that my son and daughter would not remember any of this. However, I remember EVERYTHING. Mothers like us look into the eyes of those 2, 4, 6 year olds & we know what great courage and strength it took for those children to be here. No, Mother’s day is not the same for us. We are not “ordinary” moms.

Thank you for helping make March for Babies 2013 amazing!

This year’s Philadelphia March for Babies was a beautiful day! The sky was a pretty blue and no rain! I truly hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did. All of your family team t-shirts were great designs; including Team Kaitlyn’s “Fight Like a Girl” with the 75^th anniversary seal on the front, Kickin’ It for Christopher and Just for Jenna with the creative logo. I want to especially congratulate our t-shirt design winner, Miss Kerry Anderson of Team Abby!

Some of my favorite memories from the day were seeing the sea of matching t-shirts for the enormous family teams like In Mary’s Memory and SMPS Preemie Power, meeting new teams like Baby Grayson’s Gang, Angels of Amelia and catching up with veteran teams like Team Jameson, Claudia’s Tagalongs, Duffy’s Angels, Running with the Sharks and CC Riders.

Of course, most of all, I enjoyed a special moment standing with my family and especially my little miracles - Jack & Lucy! Thanks to our family & friends for always supporting us! My family has been blessed to have been a part of March for Babies for six years now. It has become our family tradition to thank March of Dimes for saving Jack and Lucy’s lives! We haven’t reached our goal of $7,500 for the March of Dimes 75^th Anniversary yet but we’re not giving up. We took the challenge to exceed our 2013 goal as part of our Be your Best campaign. Just like our family, most family teams at the walk have endured a tragic experience and want to ensure that no family has go through what we went through. That is why I truly believe every family team can exceed their goal so that we can fund our mission.

What are your favorite memories from March for Babies Day??

Please email me some special moments you experienced on MFB day along with a couple of pictures of your team. I always enjoy hearing your feedback and looking at your pictures every year. There are so many of you who I did not get to connect with on walk day and I would love to hear from you! We are always improving our processes every year, so please give us feedback on what you thought worked well this year and areas we can improve. We value your input!

Thank you to all of the people that made the Family Teams Tent & Kids Zone possible!

Special thanks to Lowe’s for supplying us with fun kids projects to build in the Family Teams tent. They’re planning on coming back next year with even more kits and staff so the lines and wait won’t be as long.

Cash and Check Donations

If you did not make it to the Family Teams Tent to turn in your cash and check donations, it’s not too late! We are trying to get all donations in and processed by May 24^th. Please stop by our office to drop off any outstanding donations you may have or you can mail donations to:

March of Dimes

Attn: Kate Cleary

1019 West 9^th Avenue

King of Prussia, PA 19406

It's not too late to get those last minute after walk donations in!

Please note, your individual and team totals will not be accurate on our end until all cash and check donations have been received in our office. This is why my totals don’t always match yours on-line totals. You want to be sure for incentive purposes that you get everything in to our office in the next few weeks!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

A final thanks goes out to YOU!! We want you to know how very much we appreciate your support of March for Babies and March of Dimes. YOU are the very HEART of our mission and we are so grateful for families like you! We hope you will join us for March for Babies 2014!!

Thanks again for being a part of March for Babies 2013!

What do I need to bring?

What do I need to bring?

-Strollers (if needed) – this is a long walk for little ones but please no bikes or roller blades.

-Sunscreen – forecast calls for a sunny day.  Time to break out the sunscreen and sunglasses!

-Water – there will be water at the tent afterwards and along the walk path at checkpoints, but it is always a good idea to bring your own.

-Snacks – you will want to bring snacks especially if you have little ones.  We will have snacks provided after the walk but there won’t be any snacks passed out along the way.

-Cash/Check Donations and Sponsor Form – Please bring any cash and check donations to the Family Teams Tent either before or after the walk.  Please print off your Sponsor Form to ensure that the donations are posted to the correct team.  You MUST have your Sponsor Form in order to pick up your incentive t-shirt for those individuals that have raised over $200.

-Sneakers – you will want to wear sneakers for this event.  The walk route is 4 miles, so good comfortable shoes are a must!

***A few items you may want to consider before leaving your house in the morning***

Extra quarters if you park on the street, Band Aids for blisters & a camera

 

How do I get to the walk?

Please see attached Parking Info sheet.

 

What happens during the walk?

The walk begins promptly at 9:30am!  Be at the front of the line and enjoy the 4 mile walk along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

 

What happens if it rains? Toss an umbrella in the trunk of your car. March for Babies takes place rain or shine. If it rains and it would be dangerous to walk, the route will be shortened.

 

Are there checkpoints or snacks along the route? There is 1 checkpoint along the route that will provide rest, refreshments and information.  All will have water and some even have a snack.  The walk route will go out Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and return back on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive until you reach your starting point.  Please see below for approximate locations and mileage for each checkpoint and turnaround.

 

0.0                                      START – Museum steps

2.4                   Montgomery Drive (Checkpoint and Turnaround)

4.0                   FINISH – Museum steps

 

What time do I need to arrive? Registration begins at 7:30am. But if you did all of your fundraising online, come at least 45 minutes early to enjoy the stage program.

I received a last-minute donation. What should I do with the money? Please bring it with you to the walk or contact our office at 610-945-6050.

Can I bring my dog? March for Babies is held at the Philadelphia Art Museum and along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. There are no pet restrictions, but please consider the breed of your pet and that babies and small children will be at March for Babies.

Can I bring my children in strollers? Please do. The March of Babies wouldn't be a celebration without children and strollers.

Are there activities for children? Yes.  We will have several characters walking around, but also at 10am our Kids Zone will officially open with crafts, face painting, and a moon bounce.

 

Family Teams Tent

Please head back to the Family Teams Tent (#7 on the Tent Map) when you pass the Finish Line.  Please be sure your team members know where the Family Teams Tent is in case you get separated.

 

Run for Babies 5K and 10K

Do not forget that before the start of the March for Babies, the 3^rd Annual Run for Babies 5K and 10K will be starting at 8:00am in the same location.  If you or someone you know would like to register for the run please go to www.runforbabies.com and support the March of Dimes by running.  Runners will have time to run, cool off, and then walk with the team if they want.

 

11 days until March for Babies Day...

Hello Family Team Captains!

Just 11 days away from the 2012 March for Babies…

are you ready?

Marching On

All of us at the March of Dimes were deeply touched and concerned by the explosions at the Boston Marathon. Our prayers and sympathy go out to the victims and their families. As March for Babies approaches, we want you to know that the safety of your family is our top priority and we are working closely with local law enforcement to make sure your event is safe and secure. Babies still need your help and we hope you will join us as we celebrate our wish for a healthier future for our nation’s children.

Family Team Sponsorship Deadline- April 19^th – Family Team Sponsorship forms are due by this Friday, April 19, 2013. In case you didn't receive an answer the first time make a follow up ask! Your potential donor may need a little coaxing or reminding. Same with your donation emails… time to send a reminder email to prospective donors!!

Congratulations to all of the teams who have received sponsors so far:

SMPS Philly Team Preemie Power

Claudia’s Tagalongs

Emily Barr

Team William

Ideas to help you reach your team goal:

Recruit 5 more walkers to your family team

As you recruit those walkers ensure that you are encouraging them to fundraise online. Just sending one email to a few friends can result in $100 or more of donations.

In celebration of our 75^th anniversary, implement a 7 day, $75 challenge

Ask that each of the walkers on your team raise a minimum of $75 over the next 7 days.

Remind them to make their own contribution if they haven’t already.

Last but certainly NOT LEAST we ask that everyone sends another round of donation solicitation emails

The #1 reason people do not give if they have been asked is because they forget.

Send a reminder email to any donor that has been asked but not given letting them know that you have 11 days until our MFB event and you only need $____ more to get to your goal. Ask for their support.

T-Shirt Contest

If you made your own Family Team t-shirt you can enter the March for Babies t-shirt contest! Please bring a spare shirt to the walk and deliver it to the family teams tent on March for Babies day for chance to win! Winners will be announced from stage at the March for Babies closing ceremony.

White Carnation Ceremony

We will have a special time to honor of the memory of the angel babies that are no longer with us. We would like to give each parent who has experienced a loss a white carnation to show our recognition of their memory and as a symbol of one of the many reasons why we walk and raise fund for the March of Dimes. Please let me know if you will be participating so that we can make sure we have enough flowers.

Well, I’m getting excited about March for Babies, what about you??!! I will be in and around the Family Teams Tent all morning and I would love to meet you and see your team, so please look for me! I look forward to seeing you all there! If you have been to March for Babies before, you know what a fun experience it is and for all of our brand new teams, you are in for a fun, meaningful day!

Thanks for joining us at the 2013 March for Babies and thank you for walking to save babies!

Top Ten Tips for Fundraising!

We’re so happy that you’re walking with us in March for Babies! Now is the time we put our hearts and efforts together to raise money for our lifesaving cause. We can’t do this alone. We really need your help, so we’ve put together some advice to help you. As you reach out to family and friends, here are top tips to make your fundraising easy, exciting and successful!

#1 Fundraise online

The winning way to fundraise. We know how busy you are. Online fundraising is faster and brings in 3 times more money.

#2 Make your own donation

There’s a lot of value in setting a great example and showing how much you care.

#3 SOCIAL-ize

Post your reason for walking, status updates, pictures, etc., to Facebook and Twitter to create a fabulous fundraising network. Don’t forget to include your personal fundraising link.

#4 One-stop fundraising

From the Dashboard on your personal fundraising page, you can upload photos to personalize badges for your emails, website or blog; or create funny, friendly eCards.

#5 Stay connected

Your Dashboard also lets you: download iPhone® and Android apps so you can conduct your campaign from the palm of your hand; download our Facebook app; or easily spread the word with the social media share buttons.

#6 Double your donations

Asking your donors if their company has a matching gift program is a terrific way to raise twice as much.

#7 Call on colleagues

Talk about the walk face-to-face, leave notes around the office or hang posters in your workspace and on bulletin boards.

#8 Outside the box

Beyond work, reach out to a ready and caring audience: your children’s school, an organization you belong to, a place of worship.

#9 Quick way to $250

Couldn’t hurt to give this a try! Make a $25 donation. Ask three friends to match it; two family members for $20; four colleagues for $15; a neighbor for $10; your doctor for $25; and a local merchant for $15. You did it!

#10 Remind and thank

Don’t miss an opportunity to help babies. Send reminders to those who expressed interest but haven’t yet donated. Please thank everyone genuinely and enthusiastically for supporting you and remind them how special they are.

*One more for good luck!

A special tip to honor our 75th anniversary — Take the Be Your Best for Babies challenge and ask others to join you in raising their goals and growing their teams this year!