Sunshine Health Supports March for Babies Events Across Florida

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Apr 02, 2019, 07:00 ET

SUNRISE, Fla., April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunshine Health is once again supporting the March of Dimes and its March for Babies events to fight premature births.

In Florida, approximately 10 percent of babies are born prematurely. March for Babies raises money to treat infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), to fund programs that support mothers and families, and to pay for research to prevent premature births.

"Every child deserves a healthy start in life," said Debra Smyers, Sunshine Health's Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and a board member of the Broward March for Babies. "That's why we support these marches and walk alongside families whose lives have been touched by the March of Dimes."

Sunshine Health is the presenting sponsor of the May 4, 2019 Broward March for Babies at Nova Southeastern University. Sunshine Health also supports March for Babies in:

Jacksonville: April 27 at the University of North Florida
Maitland/Orlando: April 27 at Blue Jacket Park
Pensacola: April 27 at Gulf Breeze Community Center
Tampa: May 11 at Amalie Arena

Nearly 300 Sunshine Health employees walked in marches across the state in 2018.

"It's inspiring to see our employees pull together to bring awareness to such an important issue," said Chris Coffey, Sunshine Health President and CEO. "Our employees are dedicated to strengthening the communities we serve, whether it's marching with their families on a Saturday morning or raising funds through bake sales and other creative activities."

Sunshine Health Program Coordinator John Cledor knows all too well how important it is to support premature babies and their families, and fund research. His 1-year-old son Jax was born in March of last year weighing just 3 pounds. Now he's happy, healthy and ready to join his first March for Babies event. John, his wife Dominique, and Jax are serving as this year's Sunshine Health Broward March for Babies Ambassador Family.

"We are so fortunate," said John. "We look forward to sharing our story and showing others going through similar situations there is hope."

In addition to fundraising, the walks also serve to unite communities, said Nicholas C. Sacco, Chair of the March of Dimes Broward Board.

"Prematurity is the No. 1 cause of deaths in babies in the U.S.," Sacco said. "March for Babies brings together hundreds of thousands of people all across the nation, from different walks of life, united in the mission to educate expected parents, fund life-giving research and give babies the best possible chance to thrive."

You can find a march near you using the Walk for Babies event finder.

About Sunshine Health

Headquartered in Sunrise, Fla., Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support for its approximately 1 million members, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Sunshine Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Sunshine Health offers government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Long Term Care, Ambetter (Marketplace) and Allwell (Medicare). Additionally, we offer a specialty Medicaid health plan for children in or adopted from Florida's Child Welfare system and a full pay Healthy Kids plan. For more information, visit www.SunshineHealth.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @SunHealthFL.

SOURCE Sunshine Health