Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes carries out this mission through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives.

Description:
The March of Dimes is a nonprofit agency that raises funds that are awarded to researchers, medical staff, scientists and community groups.

We also provide educational opportunities in the community for women and families to provide guidance toward a healthy birth of a baby.

We participate in lobbying efforts to insure that all mothers and children have what they need to be healthy.

We have a 70-year history of success from the development of the Salk Polio Vaccine in 1955 to our groundbreaking research into the causes of preterm birth of babies.

History:
Our agency was established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938, with a goal of raising enough funds to develope a vaccine for polio.

Over the course of the next 15 years, funds were raised all across the US and awarded to many researchers, physicians and educators to help find a vaccine for polio. In 1955, the Salk Polio Vaccine was deemed effective and safe to be administered to all children.

We have been involved in many remarkable developments such as, the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; the use of surfactant therapy for babies born with immature lungs; the benefit of taking folic acid to reduce the risk of spina bifada; the establishment of the Regional NeoNatal Intensive Care Units for sick babies; to our Prematurity Campaign, a 5-year $75 Million Campaign to unravel the causes of preterm delivery of babies.

Contact person: Susan McAbee, Division Director, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (253) 759-6871

Address:

535 E. Dock St. #202 Tacoma, WA 98402 (See a map)