FBLA-PBL & March of Dimes
Working together for stronger,
healthier babies!
Over 76,000 babies are born in the United States
Over 9,200 are born too early
508 will never celebrate their first birthday
1 in 9 babies are born too soon Thank you for supporting stronger,
healthier babies*Facts provided by marchofdimes.com/peristats
*Each Week…
Agenda
Today we are going to talk about:
● March of Dimes: Overview
● Support our Mission Year-RoundRaising Awareness & Funds, Service Opportunities, Advocating for babies
● Action Plans
● Resources
75 years of helping babiesMore than four million babies were born last year and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through 75 years of research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.
● In the beginning
○ Founded in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
○ National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
● Today - The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
Our Mission - TodayThe mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
Fund Research to understand
problems & discover answers leading to
prevention & treatment.
Help Moms have full-term
pregnancies & healthy babies.
Support Families
providing comfort when their baby
needs help to survive and thrive.
Supporting March of Dimes Year-Round
Prematurity Awareness
Educate Your PeersWorld wide, 15 million babies are born too soon every year. Over 1 million do not get to celebrate their first birthday.
In the United States, 1 in 9 babies are born prematurely each year.
• November is Prematurity Awareness Month & November 17 is World Prematurity Day
• Download the Youth Planning Guide available online at marchofdimes.com/youth
Prematurity Awareness
Spread Our MissionActivities/Events to host at school:• Give a presentation
• Information booth outside the cafeteria• Speak before, during or after an assembly
• Go Purple• Decorate your halls in purple• Encourage everyone to wear purple• Light your school in purple
• Spread the word online• Facebook, twitter, instagram!
Prematurity Awareness
Average medical costs among preterm and term births (US)
Preterm is less than 37 completed weeks gestation. Source: Institute of Medicine. 2007. Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. Published and unpublished analyses. Retrieved January 29, 2013, from www.marchofdimes.com/peristats.
*Premature birth costs the United States over $26 billion each year.
Service Opportunities
Support your local NICU
Possible Activities could include: • Conduct a book drive• Collect items for families and babies:
• Scrapbooking materials• Hotel and gas cards • Diapers • Disposable cameras
• Prepare Parent Care Kits• Make greeting cards & decorations
March for Babies
Raise FundsParticipate in March for Babies• Sign up and register your team at
marchforbaies.org (make sure to include “FBLA” or “PBL” in your team name)
• Set Goals for your team and personal fundraising efforts
• Fundraising online & offline • Host events and activities at school
to raise even more funds!
Online FundraisingOFT = Online Fundraising ToolDid you know… Volunteers who use OFT raise over $100 more than those who don’t. Sign up and create your page at marchforbabies.org
Online Fundraising OFT: Customize your Team Page
Manage your team from your Team Dashboard.
• Plan Ahead (at least one month prior)o Location, date (and rain date), time
• Make sure your event appeals to a WIDE audience:o Set a theme; Make it instantly
recognizable and easy to promote
• Ensure that you plan a UNIQUE and TAILORED event, such as:o Fashion Show, Dance Marathon,
Karaoke Night, Quidditch
• Work with other clubs, organizations on campus to add to your event
Off-line Fundraising: Events
Fundraising: Additional Tips Maximize your contacts • Utilize email signatures & badges• Update EVERYONE on your progress• Use benchmarks to update the world
o “We are just three $10 donations from goal!”
• Set up an informational table/ booth at school
Follow Up • Contact people who were interested in
donating, but haven’t committed
• Send Thank You notes
Sample Events & Activities
Health Fair
Folic Acid Breakfast
Light up your school in Purple
NICU Donation Drive
Coin Drive
Bowling for Babies
Trivia/Game Night
School DanceMile of Dimes
Bagels for Babies
Incorporate the Mission into all
activities
For more information visit marchofdimes.com/youth
Raise Awareness & Funds
To Raise Awareness
To Raise Funds
Supporting Our Mission
Raise Your VoiceAdvocate for moms and babies!• Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts at
marchofdimes.com/advocacy
• Set up appointments to visit your state and local government officials
• Write letters to your legislators asking for their support
Action PlansQuestions to answer individually & with your chapter:
o What are your March of Dimes individual and chapter goal(s) for this year?
o What events or campaigns will you have to do to reach this goal?
o What specific steps are required to make these become reality?
Follow up: o Set a timeline to accomplish these goalso Donations & forms due: May 15, 2014
Resources
Learn more● marchofdimes.com/youth● marchforbabies.org
Connect● /marchofdimesyouth● /marchofdimes ● /teamyouth
Contact● teamyouth@marchofdimes.
com
thank you