March of Dimes Visitor Inspires Shreveport College Students to Donate and March for Babies

Contributed by Adrian Crawford, Campus Librarian

L to R: March of Dimes Area Director Kim Ates, Instructor Brandi Ports.

Kim Ates, Director of the North Louisiana March of Dimes, visited Remington College – Shreveport Campus, on April 4, 2012. Ms. Ates shared information on the history, purpose, and future plans of the March of Dimes with students.

History of the March of Dimes
According to www.marchofdimes.com, the March of Dimes was started by President Franklin Roosevelt because of his struggle with polio. This program was originally referred to as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which funded research for vaccines that effectively ended the polio epidemic in the United States. After winning that battle, the organization (later known as the March of Dimes) adopted a new mission: to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.

L to R: Students LaKeshia Mims and Tami Robinson at the March for Babies.

Purpose of March of Dimes Fundraisers
Ms. Ates spoke about the purpose of their fundraisers, which is to educate women on prenatal care and to save babies. In recent years, the March of Dimes has begun a campaign to decrease the number of premature births and promote the importance of pregnancies lasting 39 weeks to decrease mortality rates and premature births.

Future Initiatives for the March of Dimes
Ms. Ates also spoke to students about the March of Dimes’ future plans to get a mobile unit within the next three years. This unit will allow the March of Dimes to bring education and resources to women who do not have reliable transportation.

Shreveport College’s Involvement
Our students in Shreveport really enjoyed hearing from Ms. Ates and were surprised by all of the ways the March of Dimes helps babies, mothers, and the hospitals of North Louisiana.

Since Ms. Ates’ visit, students in the Medical Assisting program at Shreveport have raised $350 for the March of Dimes by selling lollipops and participating in the March for Babies on Saturday, April 28, 2012.