UNEXPECTED
TIMES.
RESPONDING
WITH IMPACT.
No one could have predicted the year that 2020 became. COVID-19 turned our lives upside down, but that didn’t stop March of Dimes—or you—from fighting for the health of all moms and babies.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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Even before the pandemic, the U.S. remained among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth,
March of Dimes took a leading role to protect the health of families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting communities during the global health emergency
March of Dimes’ NICU Initiatives offer multiple ways for families with babies in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and NICU staff at hospitals we partner with to access support and education they need to help improve the patient experience.
Helping all families get through a most difficult time
Better lifelong health begins with Supportive Pregnancy Care® (SPC), a group prenatal care program that aims to improve care delivery, increase social support and reduce women’s risk of preterm birth.
Refocusing to actively engage parents-to-be in their health care
especially for women and babies of color.
March of Dimes strives to help uninsured and under-insured women of childbearing age get access to quality health care for themselves and their babies.
Bringing critical services to pregnant people where there’s a lack of maternity care
Moms and babies can’t wait. Pregnancy can’t pause. That’s why families in communities all across the country needed us to find a way to come together for them.
Stepping up to raise funds for families in need
In 2020 March of Dimes launched a new consumer engagement platform—It Starts With Mom—that raised awareness and funds for the organization and provided women with health and wellness resources for every stage of motherhood.
Equipping moms to be their own best advocates
Our research grants support actionable science focused on early stages of pregnancy and neonatal development, preterm birth causes and interventions, and diagnostics and therapeutics for pregnancy and infant health.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT GREAT INNOVATIONS
For families everywhere, we advocated on behalf of, against or monitored more than 150 state legislative bills throughout 2020 to improve health equity for all moms and babies and ensure that every family is healthy.
Prioritizing mom and baby health across the country
March of Dimes demanded #BlanketChange in memory of the 700 women who die each year from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes by calling on policymakers to prioritize our nation’s moms and babies and take immediate action to improve their health.
Taking action to create positive change for moms and babies everywhere
Through our advocacy, we increased awareness of the March of Dimes mission utilizing our Celebrity Advocate Council members and friends as well as their followers to reach new audiences, including:
Engaging prominent people to improve the maternal and infant health crisis
+ PORSHA WILLIAMS
March of Dimes offers a range of educational opportunities for health care professionals, including Implicit Bias Training.
Identifying and remedying implicit bias and educating health care providers
Amidst the nation struggling with racial justice and COVID-19, March of Dimes jumped into action to protect pregnant people and their families across the country.
We met the needs of families by publishing important reports that shed light on racial disparities in health care and establishing a fund to raise critical money to improve mom and baby health.
Meeting the needs of a global pandemic and shining a light on health inequities
Volunteers drive our work to help families get the best possible start. With help from people like you, we’re making an impact through education, research and advocacy.
Taking the lead to protect moms, babies and families
50K+
NICU Online Education Series
During the initial wave of COVID-19 infections, March of Dimes created Supportive Pregnancy Virtual Groups (SPVG) to provide social support and education to expecting individuals in a safe, virtual space. In 2020, including repeat attendees, we hosted hundreds of pregnant individuals at our SPC sites and for SPVG sessions.
Throughout 2020, March of Dimes’ mobile health units provided 2,000 patient visits. These buses in 5 communities, such as in Arizona, Ohio and Washington, D.C., delivered pregnancy testing, prenatal care and social support services—all free of charge.
families
nationwide
we reached
we launched the
through our NICU Initiatives, including the NICU Family Support® program and the My NICU Baby App®.
to support all families and answer questions with NICU clinical staff. We invested in HIPAA compliant Zoom accounts so our NFS Program Coordinators could work with families virtually, and meet with families who couldn't be present in the NICU.
In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and to address restrictions on in-person gatherings, we pivoted our largest annual fundraising event to be virtual with the March for Babies Step Up! campaign.
$25M+
RAISED BY 70K individuals, companies and teams in 114 markets
and 170K social engagements with more than 95M media impressions, including features
in publications such as Parents, Forbes, BabyGaga, Parade, ABC News Radio and Latin Times.
LIVE STREAM VIEWS
206K
through March of Dimes digital channels during the campaign period.
1.5M
VIEWERS
we reached
With your help, we provided...
5,292+
meals for frontline workers and
NICU families
80+
tablets delivered
to hospital
partners
2,133+
nicu bags with
essential supplies
450+
blood pressure
cuffs delivered to
at-risk women
225
breast pumps
1.4M+
PEOPLE WITH
MORE THAN
550K VIEWS
we hosted
19 WEBINARS,
REACHING
21,838+
MASKS
Among the highlights is March of Dimes Georgia celebrating the passage of HB 1114, which extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 6 months. About a dozen additional states proposed Medicaid waivers, financial estimates or other initiatives designed to extend coverage during the postpartum period.
We utilized the pandemic to promote advocacy efforts for paid family/sick leave. While a handful of states temporarily broadened access to paid sick leave, New York and Colorado enacted permanent sick leave laws.
and 130 tweets were sent to members of Congress
4.3K
signed on, adding to 6K from the year’s start
2K
new advocates
emails
3,500+
through our e-learning tool, and launched 13 live sessions in 2020 to educate them on the impact systemic racism has on birth outcomes and maternal mortality and the critical role they play to lessen the effects of bias, particularly for families of color.
8,200+
PROVIDERS
we TRAINED
nurses
we provided continuing education to
as well as offering website resources, nursing modules and genetics education resources.
such as Gourmet Gala where members of Congress competed as Celebrity Chefs, and Signature Chefs Feeding Motherhood featuring Emeril Lagasse and La La Anthony to raise critical funds for March of Dimes’ work to help nourish all aspects of motherhood from prenatal to postpartum.
OTHER
INSPIRING EVENTS
WE ALSO HOSTED
+ NICK LACHEY
+ JESSICA ALBA
The Mom and Baby COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund addressed the urgent need for research, advocacy, education, resources and support to protect moms, babies and families from COVID-19 and the unknown future effects of the virus.
Mom and Baby COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund
2020 March of Dimes Report Card
Mom and Baby COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund
The 2020 March of Dimes Report Card was updated to provide a comprehensive view beyond grading states based on preterm birth rates to include infant death, inadequate prenatal care and disparity ratios information and important policy solutions.
2020 March of Dimes Report Card
18
program to help military families have one less thing to worry about and have healthy, full-term babies.
in 2020 that provided new moms with a fun virtual experience as well as baby gifts, live raffles and educational videos from experts in the field. In addition to free pregnancy and health education, each mom received a Philips baby monitor, a month’s supply of diapers, breastfeeding supplies, diaper bags and more.
MISSION: HEALTHY BABY®
we HOSTED
VIRTUAL SHOWERS
Due to COVID-19 we quickly pivoted to address the unique needs of military families, which included virtualizing our
Every mom and baby should be healthy regardless of wealth, race, gender or geography.
Thank you for helping us move closer to that goal.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ NATIONAL SERVICE PARTNERS
+ ROOSEVELT SOCIETY
+ EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
+ BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MARCH FOR BABIES
OTHER EVENTS
MARCH FOR BABIES
OTHER EVENTS
more than
Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S
serving as speakers, including Allyson Felix, most decorated track and field Olympian; Fidji Simo, VP and Head of Facebook App; and Senator Tammy Duckworth.
80+
corporate leaders, health care professionals
and moms
our live events featured
on ItStartsWithMom.org, offering moms pregnancy health resources.
45K+
website views
and 170K social engagements with more than 95M media impressions, including features
in publications such as Parents, Forbes, BabyGaga, Parade, ABC News Radio and Latin Times.
206K
LIVE STREAM VIEWS
through March of Dimes digital channels during the campaign period.
1.5M
VIEWERS
we reached
serving as speakers, including Allyson Felix, most decorated track and field Olympian; Fidji Simo, VP and Head of Facebook App; and Senator Tammy Duckworth.
80+
corporate leaders, health care professionals
and moms
our live events featured
on ItStartsWithMom.org, offering moms pregnancy health resources.
45K+
website views
through March of Dimes digital channels during the campaign period.
1.5M
VIEWERS
we reached
and 170K social engagements with more than 95M media impressions, including features
in publications such as Parents, Forbes, BabyGaga, Parade, ABC News Radio and Latin Times.
206K
LIVE STREAM VIEWS
we funded two COVID-19 research grantees evaluating the virus’ impact on moms and babies. The grants, amounting to $250K, were made possible by donations to the March of Dimes COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund, and included:
Mass General Hospital: this study observed low rate of transfer of COVID-19 specific antibodies across the placenta, and higher rates through breast milk
University of Pennsylvania: this study found that that the virus’s effect on other bodily systems affect the placenta and pregnancy health, without infecting the placenta
To address the health of families in 2020,
3 Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Awards
2 development program fellowships
The Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize in Developmental Biology
The Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-
Fetal Medicine
We recognized excellence with:
$1.1M for 3 Novel Discovery Grants
5 Clinical and Social Science Grants
6 Innovative Challenge Grants
We distributed:
Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S
Mom and Baby COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund
The Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S. report released in September found that 2.2M women live in maternity care deserts—counties with no hospitals offering obstetric care—and 7M women of childbearing age live in counties without access or with limited access to maternity care.
Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S.
2020 March of Dimes Report Card
+ PORSHA WILLIAMS
Porsha Williams’ Instagram Live with March of Dimes President and CEO Stacey D. Stewart on the Black maternal health crisis
+ NICK LACHEY
Nick Lachey creating his own March for Babies team and encouraging his
followers to participate
+ JESSICA ALBA
Jessica Alba’s support of It Starts with Mom Live bringing more eyes to the organization
visited BlanketChange.org
14K
were reached through social posts
20M
people
nearly
people
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
OUR MARKETS
PROVIDED
OUR MARKETS
PROVIDED
OUR MARKETS
PROVIDED
OUR MARKETS
PROVIDED
OUR MARKETS
PROVIDED
OUR MARKETS
PROVIDED
1.4M+
PEOPLE WITH
MORE THAN
550K VIEWS
we hosted
19 WEBINARS,
REACHING
Our research to counter preterm birth and maternal health issues never stopped in 2020. The incredible research we supported together will lead to finding solutions to improve the health of moms and babies.
We advanced critical research by funding five Prematurity Research Centers (PRCs) located at hospitals, medical centers and universities in the U.S. and London, with total funding (due to no-cost extensions) for 2020 amounting to $5.75M.
Investing in research to solve unmet needs and
gaps in maternal
and infant health
California Collaborative (Stanford University and University of California, San Francisco):
Stanford: Maternal immune response changes and preterm birth; Community-Hospital Low-Dose Aspirin Initiative
UCSF: Biorepository of preterm birth data; and computational modeling for drug discovery for preterm birth
Ohio Collaborative (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Case Western Reserve and Vanderbilt University): Function of genes found to be associated with preterm birth; Endocrine-immune crosstalk for pregnancy maintenance
University of Chicago-Northwestern-Duke: Epigenomics (gene expression changes) of preterm birth
University of Pennsylvania: Markers of placental dysfunction and
preterm birth
Imperial College, London: Role of the microbiome in preterm birth; validation of biomarker POC test; HIV and preterm birth; epidemiology of birth outcome disparities in the UK
Our PRCs and their areas of focus included:
We conducted two clinical trials:
March of Dimes-funded research generated:
Our PRCs and their areas of focus included:
• A microbiome supplement to prevent inflammation that leads
to preterm birth.
• A validation of micro-RNA molecules as a diagnostic biomarker in the
development of a point-of-care test for preterm birth.
We conducted two clinical trials:
March of Dimes-funded research generated:
Our PRCs and their areas of focus included:
23 peer-reviewed PRC publications on maternal and infant health.
March of Dimes-funded research generated:
We conducted two clinical trials:
HEAR FROM PRESIDENT AND CEO STACEY D. STEWART
MARCH FOR BABIES
OTHER EVENTS
Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S
Mom and Baby COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund
2020 March of Dimes Report Card
Mom and Baby COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund
Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S
California Collaborative (Stanford University and University of California, San Francisco):
Stanford: Maternal immune response changes and preterm birth; Community-Hospital Low-Dose Aspirin Initiative
UCSF: Biorepository of preterm birth data; and computational modelling for drug discovery for preterm birth
Ohio Collaborative (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Case Western Reserve and Vanderbilt University): Function of genes found to be associated with preterm birth; Endocrine-immune crosstalk for pregnancy maintenance
University of Chicago-Northwestern-Duke: Epigenomics (gene expression changes) of preterm birth
University of Pennsylvania: Markers of placental dysfunction and preterm birth
Imperial College, London: Role of the microbiome in preterm birth; validation of biomarker POC test; HIV and preterm birth; epidemiology of birth outcome disparities in the UK
Our PRCs and their areas of focus included:
We conducted two clinical trials:
March of Dimes-funded research generated:
Our PRCs and their areas of focus included:
A microbiome supplement to prevent inflammation that leads to preterm birth.
A validation of micro-RNA molecules as a diagnostic biomarker in the development of a point-of-care test for preterm birth.
We conducted two clinical trials:
March of Dimes-funded research generated:
Our PRCs and their areas of focus included:
23 peer-reviewed PRC publications on maternal and infant health.
March of Dimes-funded research generated:
We conducted two clinical trials:
3+ MILLION
2+ MILLION
500K+
150K+
75K+
AdvocateAurora
Ascension
B.U.L.L. Session Invitational Charity Events
Bank of America
Carter's
Centene Corporation
Centerpoint Energy
Chevron
Children's Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Cisco
Citibank NA
CooperSurgical
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.
Ernst & Young
FedEx
GE
GM Financial
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Gulf Coast Division Office
Hilton
Honest Company
KPMG
Los Angeles County
Macy's
Memorial Healthcare System
Memorial Hermann Health System
National Football League
Nestle USA
NRG Energy Inc
Ontario Airport
Pfizer
PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC
PNC
Providence Health & Services
Puerto Rico's Primary Care Association
Saint Luke's Health System (Kansas City)
Samsung Electronics
Texas Health Resources
TJO LIUNA Charitable
TLODTTA
UBS Financial Services
United Supermarkets
United Way
UnitedHealth Group
Walmart
Wellstar Health System
Wintrust Financial
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
OUR PARTNERS
AND ALLIANCES
Bringing together the right people and organizations who can do the most good for our families has been built into our DNA since the beginning. Our partners and alliances drive our mission, and their work has never been more crucial than it was last year.
We’re so grateful to the following local, regional and national partners whose remarkable support helped protect moms and babies throughout 2020.
We apologize for any omissions or incorrect spelling.
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ NATIONAL SERVICE PARTNERS
"Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. continues to be inspired by our partnership because after almost 50 years, March of Dimes has always been on the forefront of working to eliminate health inequities for pregnant
women and their families.”
NATIONAL
SERVICE
PARTNERS
VALERIE HOLLINGSWORTH BAKER
International President
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
"March of Dimes has a legacy of supporting the health and future of moms and babies. The organization’s commitment to its mission is a wonderful example of community-minded leadership, which is also at the core of FBLA-PBL’s mission."
ALEXANDER T. GRAHAM
President and CEO
Future Business Leaders of America-
Phi Beta Lambda
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Future Business Leaders of America and
Phi Beta Lambda
Gamma Sigma Sigma
General Federation of Women’s Clubs
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Kiwanis International and Key Club International
National Alumnae Association of Spelman College
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Top Ladies of Distinction and Top Teens of America, Inc.
The Links, Incorporated
Tri Sigma
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Roosevelt Society members are March of Dimes’ most committed and loyal individual donors who invest in our mission. Our work simply wouldn’t be possible without their support to solve the toughest maternal and infant health problems, and keep families safe during the global health crisis.
roosevelt
society
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ NATIONAL SERVICE PARTNERS
+ ROOSEVELT SOCIETY
PRESIDENT CIRCLE
Fred and Emma Goltz
Dr. Richard B. Johnston, Jr.
Sue and Lester Smith
VISIONARY CIRCLE
Mr. Wyck Godfrey and
Dr. Mary Kerr
LEADER CIRCLE
Andy and Jenny Brown
Gretchen Carlson
Dan and Amy Fields
James and Pamela Grange
Jeffrey Gural
Harold C. Schott Foundation
Brigitte and Bashar Kalai
Randy and Nancy Kibler
Dr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lockwood
Eli Manning
Joshua Milstein
John and Anita O'Connell
Randy and Cindy Pond
The Richard M. Powell Foundation
Sue and Will Schick
Neal and Sheila Schneider
Millette and Haag Sherman
Mr. Kurt N. Simon and Mrs. Katherine L. Simon
The Vachon Family
Hallie Vanderhider
The Vince and Linda McMahon Foundation
Joseph and Clare Welch
PATRON CIRCLE
Steve and Ashley Allen
Annette and Jim Alling
Anonymous
Drs. Craig Best & Carey York-Best
Greggory Burk
The Christopher Foundation Fund
Andrew and Kelly Dahle
John Davis
Charles and Margie Eisele
John Henry Felix, Ph.D.
Barry and Gail Finn
Bill and Audrey Fitzgerald
Friends of March of Dimes
Cindy and Brian Gorczynski
The Hall Family
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hawthorne
Sharon and Tom Higgins
Jenny and Pat Kernan
Sippi and Ajay Khurana
Robert Kindler
Monica Luechtefeld
McClellan Family Foundation
William McCurdy
Kevin McDowell
Hannah and Cal McNair
Mike and Diana Rapport
Pavani P. Reddy
The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation
Faiza J. Saeed, Esq.
Sid W. Richardson Foundation
Alicia and Lance Smith
Chris Stapleton
Stephanie and Frank Tsuru
Timothy J. White & Michelle LeCompte
Frank and José Willemsen–Van Dijk
Yeamans Family Foundation
LEGACY CIRCLE
Thank you to these individuals who have included March of Dimes in their estate plans.
Stephen Abelman
Louis Albrecht
Rhonda Anderson
Leck Arnold
William Barry
David Batelaan
Scott Berns
Kari Boatner
LeeAnn Bondy
Stephen Bothwell
Laura Bronson
James Cavanagh
Vincent A. Coghlan, Jr.
Fred Davenport
John Davis
James Dixon
Dee Ann Dobson
Matthew Duggan
Michael Finnerty
Renee Fishbain
Elizabeth Flaherty
Stephen Florkoski
Mary Lou Ford
Margaret Freese
Pauline Graivier
Jon Helms
Christine Iwai
Vincent Johnson
Suryaram Joshi
Alfred Kempker
Daniel Ketcherside
Nathan Khodadad
Barbara Kornblit
M. Koufman
Aman Kumar
Monica Luechtefeld
Jeanne Carolyn Lutes
Marilyn Mack
Robert Maddox
Michael Mangino
Kelley Meyer
Olubunmi Okanlami
Kathleen Pinches
Josephine Poling
Thomas Rinehart
Helen Rogers
Alan Rosenthal
Susan Schick
Timothy Semons
Manika Sharma
John Sibrea
Matthew Siegel
Jerry Silber
Edward Stark
Eszylfie Taylor
Latricia Thomason
Irene Thomassen
Judy Trier
Robert Valdilezz
Pamela Vaughan
Nancy Watson
Michael Welling
David Yeamans
Stacey D. Stewart
President and CEO
executive leadership team
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ NATIONAL SERVICE PARTNERS
+ ROOSEVELT SOCIETY
+ EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Adrian P. Mollo
SVP and General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Board
David C. Damond
SVP and Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Treasurer of the Board
Alan Brogdon
SVP and Chief Operating Officer and Officer of the Board
Cindy Rahman
SVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Darlene Slaughter
VP and Chief Diversity Inclusion and Engagement Officer
Andrew Coccari
SVP and Chief Development Officer
Dr. Rahul Gupta
SVP and Chief Medical and Health Officer
Interim Chief Scientific Officer, Research and Global Programs
Megan Walker
Chief Volunteer Officer and
VP, Community Engagement and Mobilization
Kelly Ernst
SVP Market Impact
Dr. Zsakeba Henderson
SVP and MCH Impact Deputy Medical Officer, MCH and NICU Innovation
Hilary Strickland
VP and Chief
of Staff
Monica Luechtefeld
Chair
NATIONAL board of trustees
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ NATIONAL SERVICE PARTNERS
+ ROOSEVELT SOCIETY
+ EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
+ BOARD OF TRUSTEES
F. Sessions Cole, III, MD
Vice Chair
Sue Schick
Vice Chair
William (Bill) A. Fitzgerald
Treasurer
Judy L. Aschner, MD
Trustee
Gretchen Carlson
Trustee
Amy L. Casseri, JD
Trustee
LaVerne H. Council
Trustee
Dr. Phyllis A. Dennery
Trustee
Dr. Jay Greenspan
Trustee
Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE
Trustee
Sharon Mills Higgins
Trustee
David L. Lakey, MD
Trustee
Tonya Lewis Lee
Trustee
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM
Trustee
Judette Louis MD, MPH
Trustee
Matan Parnes
Trustee
Juan Salgado-Morales, FACOG, MD
Trustee
Muhammad Shahzad
Trustee
Dr. Ellen (Ellie) Stang
Trustee
Lorna Street, MBA, CPA
Trustee
Dr. Brian Thompson
Trustee
Everett B. Ward, PH.D.
Trustee
Donald K. Warne, MD, MPH
Trustee
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ PARTNERS AND ALLIANCES
+ NATIONAL SERVICE PARTNERS
+ ROOSEVELT SOCIETY
+ EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
+ BOARD OF TRUSTEES