PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The March of Dimes held their largest community fundraiser, March for Babies, at the Navy Yard Saturday morning.
The nonprofit aims to raise $500,000 to support research to help end the maternal and infant health crisis.
“We are the most dangerous developed nation to give birth and it should not be that way,” said Alison Lang, March of Dimes senior executive director for Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware.
The CDC says infant mortality rose nationally in 2023 for the first time in 20 years. In Philadelphia, the rate is 40% higher than the national average.
Lang says educational programs like prenatal care can help improve maternal and infant health.
“The health of a baby starts with a healthy mom,” she said.
March for Babies
Thousands were in attendance at the march Saturday.
The nonprofit wanted to create a space for community members to come together, share their stories, and walk in honor of loved ones they’ve lost, Lang said.
Dana Bowser was among those who participated. She shared her personal experience with childbirth, which is what brought her out today.
“My son Justin, who is now 17 years old, was born five weeks prematurely and he seemed to be a healthy baby,” she said. “But six days of life my son's bilirubin skyrocketed and the emergency room pediatrician told us that he may not make it overnight.”
Bowser says March of Dimes helped her through that difficult time.
Anthony Carotneuto of Bucks County came to support his neighbors who had a stillborn.
“We come to support them and their family — people need support for that,” he said.
March of Dimes gave Pennsylvania a C+ in its latest infant mortality report card. Philadelphia was given a D-, an improvement from a previous report when the city received an F.