MARCH OF DIMES MARCH FOR BABIES
The Woodlands, TX
Sunday, April 26th
ABOUT THE EVENT
The annual March of Dimes March for Babies (formerly known as WalkAmerica) fundraising and awareness campaign supports lifesaving research and programs to help prevent or treat premature birth, birth defects and other threats to babies' health. Since its beginning in 1970, March for Babies has raised more than $1.5 billion to help give babies a fighting chance. Team SA raised more than $6,300 in 2008, and we will strive to top that figure in 2009.
This year, our Woodlands Team SA members have put together a series of fundraising events that support March of Dimes, while also building camaraderie at our site. Our plans include hosting two events each month, culminating with our countywide March for Babies on April 26th.
We kick off our campaign in February with DoubleDave's Pizza Sale, serving slices of pizza during lunch for a nominal donation. At the end of February, we host our Cake Walk in the Tesla room, where employees bake and donate a wide array of confections to be given away as prizes.
March brings our new event for 2009, "Hoops for Healthy Babies," where employees shoot baskets to win donated prizes. Each employee starts with three basketballs and keeps shooting until they miss. When the player has exhausted their supply of basketballs, their total score is recorded. Near the end of March, we host Ice Cream day, allowing our colleagues to enjoy frozen treats in the lunchroom in return for donations.
We’ll wrap up our campaign in April with our signature "Pie-in-the-face" event, where Sigma-Aldrich managers and supervisors offer their faces to become whipped-cream pie targets. Pictures of pie victims are posted in our hallways for all to admire.
At the end of April, Team SA members gather at a local community college along with 1,500 other volunteers from Montgomery County to participate in the March for Babies. Members and their families enjoy the spirit of the event and celebrate our success.
Throughout our campaign, Team SA members sell March for Babies plush toys and compete with other donors to collect online donations from friends and family.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Our employee volunteers provide needed support during the walk, such as serving refreshments to walkers, runners and stroller-pushers. Other volunteer activities include staffing the hospitality tent, providing families with information regarding the prevention of premature birth, and hosting local NICU doctors to educate families about prenatal care and assistance for parents of premature babies.
