Leading Corporations March For Babies

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Bottom Line is More than Healthcare Savings

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Feb 27, 2014, 12:01 ET

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An extensive list of national and international corporations are supporting the March of Dimes signature fundraiser, March for Babies, because they know their efforts go beyond good business and healthcare savings -- they also help save babies lives.

"At Kmart we know that preventing premature birth not only reduces health care costs, it saves babies' lives," says Tim Austin, 2014 National Chairman for March for Babies and Sr. VP of Retail Services at Kmart - Sears Holdings Corporation. "We have partnered with the March of Dimes for 31 years to help advance the critical work being done on behalf of our tiniest citizens."

Kmart, and top sponsors Macy's, Cigna, Famous Footwear, Sanofi Pasteur, Mission Pharmacal, United Airlines, and Actavis will help the March of Dimes raise more than $100 million to support lifesaving research and programs. In addition to these eight national sponsors, thousands of corporations across the country will participate in March for Babies this spring.

"Our corporate partners know that premature birth is the most serious problem facing America's newborns," says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "Being born too soon causes heartache and tragedy for families, and it places an enormous burden of excess health care costs on companies and our economy."

According to the March of Dimes, which commissioned an analysis by Truven Health Analytics, Inc., the average medical cost to an employer for a premature baby was over $54,000 compared to about $4,300 for a healthy baby.

"Childbirth and newborn care are among the most expensive conditions billed to insurers," says Dr. Howse. "By investing in the prevention of preterm birth, employers can help families of their employees and customers, and rein in health care costs at the same time."

March for Babies will be held in nearly 700 locations nationwide and involves more than 20,000 companies and 3 million people, including celebrities, sports stars, community leaders and families of babies born prematurely who are involved as volunteers, sponsors and participants.

March for Babies will occur in most communities on April 26 and 27. Companies, families, and individuals can join the event at marchforbabies.org.

The money raised by March for Babies events supports research, education, and community-based programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. March of Dimes grantees conduct research to find answers to the problems that threaten the health of babies.

For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE March of Dimes