Dealerships Donate to March for Babies

The 2013 March for Babies Campaign is getting off to a great start, thanks to a generous donation from two area car dealerships.

Best Chevrolet of the Upstate and Best Kia of the Upstate presented $25,000 to the Pickens County March of Dimes campaign during the campaign's Team Captain Kickoff Tuesday afternoon.

The two dealerships, the presenting sponsors of the 2013 March for Babies, also announced that they will face off against each other in the “Fill the Front campaign.”  In this campaign, participating dealerships compete to collect donations to March of Dimes and "Fill the Front" windows of their dealership with March of Dimes' paper sneakers honoring each individual donor.  Best Chevrolet and Best Kia will vie directly against each other to collect the most donations.

“A little friendly competition really inspires people to do their best, and March of Dimes and the kids it helps deserve no less from us,” said Pete Mirante, owner of Best Upstate.  “At Best Chevrolet of the Upstate and Best Kia of the Upstate, we are proud to stand behind this cause and help it do its work.  I'm sure everybody out there joins me in wanting to see March of Dimes continue making sure babies get the best start possible." 

“How can we fail, if we have folks that believe in us?” asked Roddey Gettys, Baptist Easley CEO and 2013 March for Babies Chairman. “What a way to get started! What better cause, than for the little ones? The March of Dimes is inspired by all babies.

“They are the millions of reasons behind our urgent mission and why everyday March of Dimes is fighting for the babies in our lives – the healthy grandchildren, the neighbor born too soon or too small or the friend whose child didn't survive,” Gettys continued.

March for Babies participants walk together “to remember, to honor or to celebrate the babies who touch our lives,” Gettys said.

“And we raise money so that one day every parent experiences the joy of a healthy baby,” he said. “Sadly, we have a lot of work ahead of us.”

While the organization has seen a decrease in premature births, birth defects and infant mortality, there's still work to be done.

“Each minute we are here today, another child is born too soon in our country – one every hour in South Carolina,” Gettys said. “That's where you come in. March for Babies is one of the most important ways we have of ensuring that we can continue our research, education and local programs to fight premature birth, birth defects and other threats to our babies' health.”

4-year-old TJ Morgan has been selected as the Ambassador for Pickens County this year.

TJ's mom Casey Morgan told her son's story.

When TJ was born, the umbilical cord was wrapped over his shoulder and around his abdomen, almost in a seatbelt fashion,” Casey said.

TJ wasn't breathing at first, and after CPR was performed, wasn't moving, Casey said.

He spent 18 days in the NICU, she said.

“His 18 days in the NICU were frustrating and frightening,” Morgan said.

Last week, she spoke with Easley Patch about the tremendous help March of Dimes gave her family during a frightening time.

She spoke of the bag of resources that two March of Dimes representatives gave her family, a bag that she brings to every March for Babies.

“Besides the resources and gifts, those two ladies wrapped their arms around me,” Morgan recalled. “And that act of compassion spoke volumes. It helped me have a little hope … in days that were thrilled with a lot of fright and a lot of anxiety. ”

“They make a difference,” Morgan said, of the March of Dimes. “Sometimes, it's not just about the money they raise. It's about the love that they put behind it.”

This year marks the 75^th Anniversary of the March of Dimes, according to March of Dimes Community Director Erin Reid.

“75 years of making a difference and saving lives,” Reid said.

Pickens County teams are ready to do their part to help the organization.

In 2012, Pickens County raised more than $105,000 during the March for Babies campaign, according to Erin Reid, March of Dimes Community Director.

This year, the Pickens County March for Babies goal is $118,000.

“March for Babies is America's first and best loved walking fundraiser,” Reid said. “When we come together, we take steps toward a healthier future for our babies and our community.”

At the end of the kickoff, teams posted their team goals on a symbolic “birthday cake.”

When the teams were done posting their goals, the total added up to nearly $80,000, Gettys said.

“We can do this,” Gettys said. “I know we can. You know how to do it – let's do it better this year. One day, all babies will be born healthy, but we have to walk to get there.”

Visit www.marchofdimes.com/southcarolina to learn more about March of Dimes and the 2013 March for Babies.