The March of Dimes National Youth Council has chosen seven new members and a new chairperson. These top student leaders will join 11 other high-level college volunteers around the country to support March of Dimes youth leadership.
National Youth Council members are selected because of their demonstrated leadership ability and their potential for service to the March of Dimes Foundation. These new members have done extensive volunteer work for the March of Dimes and are active members in their communities, and will serve as exceptional leaders.
Jeremy Keller of Ohio is the new chair of the March of Dimes National Youth Council.
Jeremy has had a lifelong connection to the March of Dimes mission, participating in his first March of Dimes walk at 9 months of age as his grandmother pulled him along in a little red wagon. He has extensive involvement in the March of Dimes and other youth volunteer organizations.
Originally from Dayton, Jeremy is a senior at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He is majoring in both psychology and Russian. He is also involved in the Pre‐Law Association, promoting environmental causes and the Community Service Scholars Program.
The seven new members are:
- Dylan Conn, Lake Villa, Illinois, a freshman at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. majoring in Public Policy. In 2007, Dylan started the March of Dimes “Save Premature Babies” Facebook Cause that grew to become the March of Dimes largest cause on Facebook with more than 400,000 members.
- Jared Doles, Roswell, New Mexico, a freshman at Arizona State University in Tempe, majoring in film production. Jared previously served as one of 11 International Trustees of Key Club International, a March of Dimes national service partner.
- Ronak Gandhi, Plainsboro, New Jersey, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, earning degrees at both Wharton School of Business and Penn Engineering. Ronak joined the Mercer County Chain Reaction as a March of Dimes volunteer and served in a leadership role on the council from 9th to 12th grade, most recently as the acting president.
- Anjani Kumar, Bethesda, Maryland, a junior at the University of Maryland in College Park, majoring in biochemistry and anthropology. Anjani is the founder and president of his school’s March of Dimes Collegiate Council.
- Abigail McKamey, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, majoring in English and history. Most recently serving as the Key Club International president, Abigail has received numerous young leader awards for her strong leadership and service ethic.
- Caroline McKnight, Gainesville, Florida, a freshman at University of Florida majoring in environmental science. Caroline joined the March of Dimes Chain Reaction in 2007 and recently chaired its annual health conference along with directing its First Annual Wing Bowl fundraiser, which raised $7,000 in its inaugural year.
- Hilary Wright, Santee, Calif., a freshman at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Hilary joined the Chain Reaction Youth Council of San Diego in 10th grade and since has served as the March for Babies Youth Chair.
National Youth Council members work closely with other volunteers and professional staff at the March of Dimes regional and national offices and in the chapters to provide leadership and assistance. In addition, National Youth Council members will be involved with other national partners, advocacy initiatives, and the development of collegiate programs to support the March of Dimes mission.
About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.