March of Dimes to Honor Prominent Individuals Making a Significant Impact on the African American Community; 9th Annual "Healthy Babies, Healthy

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 31, 2007 -- On Friday, June 22, 2007, March of Dimes will hold its annual gala celebration "Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures -- A Salute to African-American Families" to honor prominent figures making a difference in the African American community. The Crystal Ballroom in The Beverly Hills Hotel will play host to this special evening. This year, the March of Dimes will recognize as 2007 Honorees for Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures Wilbert W. James Jr., President of Toyota Long Beach, Sandra Evers-Manly, Vice President Corporate Responsibility, Northrop Grumman, and Sherin U. Devaskar, MD, Professor of Pediatrics/Neonatology, Executive Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Devaskar is a prominent doctor from UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital making great strides in preventing premature births.

Since its inception nine years ago, Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures has raised over $1 million dollars for the plight against prematurity. In addition to raising money every year toward preventing premature birth, this annual event is intended to bring awareness to prematurity in the African American community which is the highest of all ethnic communities. In the United States, prematurity/low birthweight is the second leading cause of all infant deaths (during the first year of life) and the leading cause of infant death among black infants. The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. This mission is carried out by research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies' lives. 55,000 babies are born premature every year in California and nearly half a million across the United States. In California, African American infants are almost twice as likely to be born premature than Caucasian infants.

In the past years, Healthy Babies Healthy Futures has recognized such individuals as John Salley, Holly Robinson Peete, Elgin Charles, Dennis Haysbert, Gail N. Jackson MD, Manuel "Manny" Grace, and several other outstanding African Americans. The March of Dimes has quite a history with prominent African American supporters and spokespeople including Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sammy Davis Jr.

The 2007's Honorary Committee includes Kim Coles, Vanessa Williams, Lewis Dix Jr., Sherri Shepherd, Orlando Jones, and Steve Harris -- all lending their support and dedication to the March of Dimes mission. The 2007 Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures' presenting sponsor is Farmers Insurance Group, a corporation that makes a difference in African American communities across the nation and is dedicated to healthy babies and families. "We are pleased to acknowledge our honorees for their contributions to their communities and for their support of our mission to give every baby a healthy start," said Dani Montague, State Director of the March of Dimes California Chapter. "For nine years this event has helped us raise awareness of prematurity rates within the African American community -- an endeavor that would not be possible without the support of our honorees."

Healthy Babies, Healthy Futures -- A Salute to African-American Families
Friday, June 22, 2007 6:00p.m.
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Crystal Ballroom
Marchofdimes.com/ca

For tickets and more information, please contact Julia Moran Beauchemin, March of Dimes at 213.637.5043.

For all media inquiries, please contact Diana Bianchini, Di Moda Public Relations, 310.288.0077.

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