Libby Anvender

Family and Friends,

It's that time of year again… March for Babies season! As I start my 4th year with March of Dimes, I am still deeply in awe of the wonderful work they do for moms and babies. 

My direct work with the March of Dimes NICU Family Support program provides me the opportunity to see firsthand the difference that March of Dimes makes. With 70 partner hospitals across the country and reaching more than 50,000 NICU families annually, NICU Family Support is considered the premier program for NICUs, offering family education, staff training on family-centered care, and an improved patient experience. Every baby deserves the best possible start and NICU Family Support helps enhance families' ability to feel more prepared and supported through the NICU journey and their transition home. I am incredibly honored to be part of such amazing work.

Beyond the work that March of Dimes does for NICU families, they also provide critical health information and advocacy for women. The US is among the most dangerous developed nations to have a baby and having access to quality healthcare, information, and policy is key to ensuring families have the best possible start. This is more important now than ever. I invite you to check out our 2024 March of Dimes Report Card to learn more about what contributes to our poor maternal and infant health outcomes. You will see as a nation that we have earned a D+ for the third consecutive year in a row due to the national preterm birth rate (Missouri has earned a D, which is lower than the previous year). 

Please consider joining me this March for Babies season and donating to help fund this incredibly important work for all moms and babies. 

Libby