Jordin Sparks and Steve Smith to Lead March for Babies(R) in Manhattan

American Idol Winner and NY Giant Wide Receiver Take Steps to Help Babies

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Apr 16, 2010, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The March of Dimes New York Division announced today that American Idol winner and Grammy nominated singer, Jordin Sparks, and New York Football Giants wide receiver, Steve Smith, will lead March for Babies® in Manhattan.

Over 8,000 New Yorkers are expected to join March for Babies on Sunday, April 25 for the 3.5-mile walk, starting at Lincoln Center and ending at 23 St. and Madison Ave. CBS 2 News Co-Anchor, Maurice Dubois, and WCBS-TV/CBS 2 Sports Anchor and Reporter, Sam Ryan, will co-host the morning program.

March for Babies is the March of Dimes premier fundraising event that benefits all babies – those born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, March for Babies, formerly WalkAmerica, began in 1970 as the first charitable walk event in the United States. Today, March for Babies is held in over 900 communities across the nation with over 7 million people participating. The event has raised more than $1.8 billion. Dollars raised go to support programs of research, advocacy, community programs and education to help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies, and to support the prematurity campaign. The fundraising goal for New York City this year is $2.4 million dollars. To register, or for information on other sites in the NY metro area visit www.marchofdimes.com/ny.

National sponsors are Kmart, CIGNA, Farmers, FedEx, Famous Footwear, Continental Airlines, Sanofi Pasteur, First Response and Mission Pharmacal. Local sponsors include CIGNA Thomson Reuters, Morgan Stanley, Citi, Ernst & Young, Allen & Overy LLP, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Goodwin Procter LLP, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, Proskauer Rose LLP, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Sullivan &Cromwell LLP, and White & Case LLP. Media sponsors are WCBS-TV, WCBS Newsradio 880, fresh 102.7, WCBS-FM 101.1, New York Post, NY1 News and NY1 Noticias.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit www.marchofdimes.com/ny or www.nacersano.org.