Welcome to The ZACK PACK! Who are the Zack Pack? We ar volunteers, walkers, sponsors, friends and family for the March of Dimes, who support Zachary Stein, my personal little Preemie (ok, he's 29 now and not so little anymore...but he still overcomes obstacles associated with prematurity on a daily basis! ) This is why we ask for your support. We will also be running, once again, the Kidzone Play area on April 28 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. If you want to help out and volunteer for the event, please contact me directly!
Right now, babies need all the help they can get. Premature birth affects about 380,000 babies here in the United States. We are walking and supporting the annual March for Babies to get the message out about this problem and you can help. Please make a secure donation to help me reach my goal. Together we can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity so more babies can get the strongest start possible, just like my son Zack.
Zachary, who was born 5 1/2 weeks premature, received care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which was developed from research by the March of Dimes way back in 1994. So what happens top these preemies as they get older? Well, my little preemie is not so little any more. Having graduated Fair Lawn High School and the STRIVE program, Zack was one of just a handful of students to get into the Turning Point Program at Bergen Community College AND he granduated in 2018! This is a huge achievement and we are so proud of him! It just goes to show that anyone, even a preemie like Zack can accomplish anything. Zack works Part time at Target in Spring Valley NY, no surprise there its his favorite place to shop , and he gets to work with me!! Target s also a HUGE suporter and sponsors us at the annual walk-- for almost 10 years now and multiple locations!
It was a hard road to get to where we are today, but it was so worth it. His special needs have not gone away; he will in all likelihood have to deal with them for a life time, but he is learning to adapt the best he can.
Growing up, Zack has gone thru speech therapy, occupational therapy, a handful of surgeries (ok, more than a handful, including tear duct, tubes in ears, umbilical hernia, a blood transfusion from Spherocintosis), attended adaptive classes and so much more...and it all started with his visit to the NICU at Valley Hospital (Thank you March of Dimes for your innovations!!) A few years ago, Zack had been diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, but that's not going to slow him down. NOT ONE BIT!
We have met some really nice people along the way: some famous (Julie Chen, Katie Couric, Dana McGreevey, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mizar Turdeau (News 12), Race Taylor from CBSFM, Sheila Watko (Fresh 102.7).Charles Way (NYG) among many others), and made some great friends with our co-walkers/sponsors (TEAM TARGET AT SPRING VALLEY NY /and previously at RIVERDALE, NJ, VeraData, DIGITAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS... and it all started over 25 years ago with TEAM MOKRYNSKI!)
Most importantly, we have gotten to know so many wonderfully compassionate people at the March of Dimes, including their amazing, compassionate staff, as well as some of the other families we have had the honor of meeting along the way.
We are asking for your help again as we prepare for our annual event.. We are planning to be live again at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Sunday April 28, 2024, operating once again the Kidzone and our new favorite event, The Superhero Sprint, for our very young walkers!
Zack's delays may be long lasting, but with your help, we can work together to help further the research concerning prematurity and help kids just like Zack. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Why not sponsor Zachary and myself (The ZACK PACK) and Donate today, any amount will help further our goal! Do you want to join us for the walk this year? Sign up to be a member of the ZACK PACK! You can walk or help volunteer at the KidZone with face painting, coloring, reading, games, a bouncy tent, and more!
Visit my page at www.marchforbabies.org/zacksdad to make your donation, to join our team, or to just learn more about this cause that is so near and dear to our hearts!
Thanks in advance for your support!
Bob (and Zack)..or should I say Zack (and Bob) Stein
For questions and additional information, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or PM me on facebook!
With preterm birth rates continuing to rise, the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth, especially for women and babies of color.
At March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement™ you're lifting up communities, creating connections and taking action to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.
Together, we’re marching to raise funds and awareness to transform the health of all families!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Thank you to our local sponsors
