San Diego's Matching Gift Campaign
March of Dimes San Diego annually hosts the Signature Chefs Gala. However, as the rest of the world pivots, we had to as well and postponed the annual Gala to 2021. But our need remains the same, ensuring the overall health of all moms and babies.
In the next hour, two babies will die in the US. By the end of the day, 2 women will die from pregnancy-related causes. And yet so much is unknown as to why.
La Jolla residents Matt and Lisa Bresnahan welcomed their daughter, Madeline, six weeks early at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns. Madeline weighed only 4 lbs and 1 ounce and spent 22 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Seeking to make a difference and learn more about why their daughter was born prematurely, Matt joined the San Diego Market Board of March of Dimes, the leading non-profit dedicated to improve the health of moms and babies. Now, Matt and his wife Lisa are co-chairing the newly launched San Diego Matching Gifts Campaign to support March of Dimes and their work to reduce preventable health risks for moms and babies, including reducing premature births and keeping moms and babies healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. With 100% of the board giving, the San Diego Board of Directors will match every dollar that the community contributes to March of Dimes up to $50,000.
The U.S. is among the most dangerous developed nations in which to give birth. Even before the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, the United States was in the midst of a maternal and child health crisis with more than 50,000 women experiencing life-threatening complications as a result of pregnancy and childbirth and 380,000 babies born prematurely each year. Premature birth can lead to lifelong health problems and is the leading cause of infant deaths. In San Diego County, one in 12 babies (8.4%) are born preterm.
Contact Heidi Lang at
[email protected] or 858-300-6401
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