Topic: March of Dimes
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the mission that March of Dimes is out to accomplish.
Thesis Statement: To discuss the major contributions of the March of Dimes foundation and their mission to help mothers have full-term pregnancies and study the complications that threaten the health of babies.
About March of Dimes
A. Was first established by the FDR to fight polio
B. Original name was The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
C. Founded by Franklin D. Rooosevelt, 32nd president of the U.S. in 1938
D. 51 affiliates
E. Focus was shifted to premature birth and birth in defects in 1958
F. Fight to stop premature birth began in 2003 with their Prematurity Campaign
G. Intensive, multi-year campaign to raise awareness and find the cause of prematurity
H. Premature birth and birth defects affect 23 million babies worldwide
I. More than 4 million die from preterm birth and birth defects
J. Those who survive, majority will be disabled for life
II. How it works A. Promote newborn screening B. Discover the genetic causes of birth defects C. Educate medical professionals and public about best possible practices for healthy pregnancy D. They help by providing financial support and sharing their technical expertise and resources E. Global Programs- since 1998, they have partnered with local organizations in 33 developing countries on four continents F. Local Community Grants are awarded annually to fund programs 1) Centering Pregnancy- improve availability and quality of healthcare 2) Other programs help promote the health and well-being of women and couples before pregnancy to increase their chances of having a healthy baby 3) Other programs educate doctors and nurses about reducing the rates of elective labor inductions and c-sections before the 39th week of pregnancy 4) NICU Family