Aloha … from BethC Gifford raises money for March of Dimes Gifford supporting healthy births
RANDOLPH, April 13, 2010 – When Gov. James Douglas visited Gifford Medical Center last month for the Governor’s Annual Tree Tapping, Gifford staff were dressed a bit casually for a gathering with the state’s top leader.
In fact, they were wearing jeans.
They had good reason, though. They were raising money for the March of Dimes. Nearly 80 employees at Gifford donned “blue jeans for babies,” raising $395 for the March of Dimes.
Blue Jean for Babies takes place across the nation as workplaces like Gifford give employees the opportunity to wear jeans to work for a day in exchange for a $5 donation to the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes is the nation’s leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health. It raises funds through a variety of events to help prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Known for its Birthing Center, Gifford is a supporter of the March of Dimes’ work.
Tammy Hammond, a Gifford coder, has been leading Gifford’s Blue Jeans for Babies event for the last several years and on April 9 awarded March of Dimes Vermont State Chapter Director Roger Clapp an over-sized check for $395.
Gifford additionally is a sponsor of the March for Babies fund-raising walks on April 25 in Randolph and Montpelier. Gifford has also joined hospitals around the state in a quality improvement initiative aimed at reducing late pre-term births and bettering care for babies born early.
The initiative is sponsored in part by the March of Dimes. Clapp noted that it is an example of how money raised through Blue Jeans for Babies and the March for Babies is reinvested locally.
He also praised Hammond’s work.
“Tammy has been a long-time and enthusiastic supporter of the March of Dimes, and we’re extremely grateful for her selfless effort,” Clapp said.
Hammond called the March of Dimes work important to her, especially as a mother.
“Our babies are our future and helping to give them a healthy start is very fulfilling,” Hammond said.
There is still time for you to join Gifford in helping the March of Dimes’ work. The 2010 March for Babies walks kick off at the Randolph (village) Fire Department and Montpelier High School on April 25 at 9 a.m. Walks are also taking place elsewhere on a variety of dates across the state.
Log on to www.marchforbabies.org www.marchforbabies.com to learn more.