About March of Dimes

Our Mission

The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.
Each year, more than 460,000 babies are born too soon, some so small they can fit in the palm of a hand. Many of these babies must fight just to survive; others will struggle with lifelong health problems. No one knows what causes half of all premature births. No one is working harder than the March of Dimes to find out.

Our History

In January 1938, President Roosevelt established the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis -- a unique partnership of scientists and volunteers -- to conquer polio. Comedian Eddie Cantor created the first grassroots fund-raiser for the National Foundation, asking the public to send dimes to President Roosevelt at the White House. The effort was called the March of Dimes, which later became part of the official name of the foundation.
President Franklin Roosevelt established the March of Dimes in 1938 to save America's youth from polio. His premise was that people can solve any problem if they work together. He created a partnership of volunteers and researchers, and within 17 years, the Salk vaccine had been developed and polio was on the run. With the approval of the Salk vaccine and resulting eradication of polio, the March of Dimes turned its focus to a new mission to save America's youth. Since 1958, the March of Dimes has been funding cutting edge research and innovative programs to save babies from birth defects, premature birth and low birthweight.

The March of Dimes in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky

The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Division, located in Cincinnati, OH is the largest fundraising division in Ohio. Our support for the March of Dimes comes through proceeds from annual local fundraising events and awareness programs such as:
March for Babies (April) 
Bikers for Babies RIDE (September) 
French Masters Chef Gourmet Gala (November) 
Prematurity Awareness Month (November)