Community Corner
Local Businesswoman Leads March of Dimes Effort to Improve Health of Jersey Shore Babies
More than 12,000 of New Jersey babies will be born premature this year, and business leader Diann Johnston is working with the March of Dimes to change this.
Diann Johnston, Vice President, Patient Care Services, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ, knows how important the March of Dimes mission is. She has taken on the role of Jersey Shore March for Babies Chair to raise awareness and important funding to provide for babies who are born premature or with birth defects. Johnston has made the commitment to raise $56,000 as part of the overall goal of $280,000 in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
March for Babies, the March of Dimes largest fundraiser, helps fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at helping moms have healthy babies. Last year in Monmouth and Ocean Counties more than $270,000 was raised. This year, March for Babies Chair Diann Johnston will focus on recruiting new companies to participate and lead the community in making a difference for the health of moms and babies.
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“As a business leader, this campaign gives me and my company a unique opportunity to help the community that I love. I can’t think of a more important cause than our babies,” said Johnston, who will be asking other local businesses for their support in the coming months. “One in 9 of our babies here in New Jersey is born premature, and that’s just not acceptable. It takes leaders in our community working together to ensure more moms have healthy pregnancies. More than 20,000 companies are partnering in March for Babies to help reduce the premature birth rate and improve the health of babies.”
Jersey Shore residents can sign up today at www.marchforbabies.org and start a team with co-workers, family or friends. Last year, more than 700 people attended the event -- which will be held this year on Sunday May 4 at the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
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“We’re so excited to have Diann Johnston on board to help us at a local level,” said Addy Bonet, State Director for the New Jersey March of Dimes Chapter. “Her passion for the cause and commitment to helping our babies will be a huge driving factor in the success of our event. We are grateful for her commitment.”
