Thank you, Family Teams!

 

We did it! We made it through March for Babies 2013!

Thank you for another successful year at March for Babies, Family Teams. I hope you were all able to make it out to the park to walk in the beautiful weather, enjoy some free treats, and celebrate! We had the pleasure of meeting some of the wonderful family teams at the tent this year and hope you all enjoyed the day as much as we did.

Our Ambassador Family, the McSpaddens!

If you haven't reached your goal yet, remember, it's not too late! Money for your team can be turned in up to June 30, 2013.  A great way to make those final dollars is to send a follow up email to your friends and family. Tell them about your experience at March for Babies, include pictures from your day, and let them know that how close you are to reaching your goal! Anyone who may have missed the pre-walk deadline will love to hear about your experience and will be reminded to support your team!

 

Family Teams on the route!

After being a college intern for Austin Family Teams for two years, I have to say, Austin has the best teams I could have ever asked to work with. You are all so dedicated to the mission and are continuously fighting for a healthier tomorrow for babies across the nation. Your dedication, spirit, creativity and kindness make working for the March of Dimes incredibly worthwhile. I hope you all know that your hard work does not go unnoticed!

March of Dimes Austin loves our Austin Family Teams!

If you have any questions, concerns or comments concerning the walk, please do not hesitate to myself or Katerina at the March of Dimes office at sbhat@marchofdimes.com or  kkormas@marchofdimes.com!

 

4 Days till March for Babies!

 

The walk is right around the corner and we are looking forward to seeing all of our family teams on Saturday!  Thank you for making our 75th Anniversary such a special year for us! In order to make this walk enjoyable for everyone, please read some final reminders of the logistical details for you and your teammates! Use this  Park Site map to help you understand where the activities will be.

Family Teams Tent

We know the walk can be a whirlwind experience, but we would love to see your family team. Stop by the Family Teams tent (located right next to the Children's Area), check in and join in on some fun activities! 

 

Children's Area:
For those of you bringing your little ones along, we have an entire area dedicated to being a kid. The Kiddie Corner includes moon bouncers, coloring stations and bubble machines!

 

75th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt:
What better way to enjoy your surroundings and learn about March of Dimes. Kids can pick up a map at the Kiddie Corner. The map leads to different areas at the park where the kids will locate the March of Dimes Milestone poster and receive a sticker. Once the kids collect 8 stickers, they return to the Walgreens tent for a prize!

Food:
Convenient for Family Teams, the food is located right next to the Children's Area! This year we will have two food vendors - Southwest Dairy Farmers and Kona Ice. Cool off after the walk by visiting Southwest Dairy Farmers for an Ice Cream Sandwich and Kona Ice for a snow cone. And don't miss having your picture taken with the Southwest Dairy Farmers Cow! Happy Baby Organic Family Superfoods will also be on site to offer samples of their yummy baby food!

 Merchandise:
Don't forget to visit the Merchandise tent to purchase T-shirts, tumblers, and more March for Babies products. You can also purchase Butterflies at the Merchandise and Family Teams tents as well.

 The Band:

Finally, enjoy classic Rolling Stones entertainment with Stone Rollers from 10-12pm on the main event stage!

Event Schedule

8:00am Registration opens

*If you have created a team online, you do not need to go to registration unless you are turning in money.
8:50am Warm-up with Stroller Strides at Start Line
9:00am Walk begins
10:00am Gather at the park for fun activities and entertainment

Important Notes:

Donations:
Donations can be turned in at the Registration Tent.
Merchandise:
March of Dimes sales tent will be selling March of Dimes T-shirts for $5, Purple Tumblers for $5, Awareness Bands for $2 and NICU Grad Shirts for $10.Baby Changing and Feeding:
A Baby Changing and Feeding tent will be located by the Family Teams Tent.Butterflies:
Butterflies will be for sale for a $25 donation at the Sales tent and at the Family Teams tent.

Parking Do's and Don'ts

• DO NOT try to enter through Riverside.  It will be SHUT down and that is no way to start off a great day.
• DO NOT park at Hooter's, Auditorium Shores lot, Homestead Hotel or in the neighborhoods.  You most likely will be towed and that is no way to end a great day.
• DO arrive early.  The early bird will get the good spot.
• DO get your friends and family together to carpool; this will help everyone find a spot, save on gas, and help the environment.
• DO take advantage of these parking options:

Palmer Events Center Garage, 900 Barton Springs Road ($7)

One Texas Center Garage, 515 Barton Springs Road ($7)

Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez ($ based on length of stay)

Thinking about alternate Transportation?

Via Bus:
Capital Metro routes 5, 10, and 30
will get you closest to the start point of the event. Have the operator let you
off at one of the bus stops at South First and Barton Creek, nearest to the
Whataburger. For connections or scheduling information, go to www.capmetro.org.

Via Bike:

We encourage the use of pedal
power.  For those wanting to bike to the
event, bike racks will be available near the back of the property between the
parking lot and EMS tent. Don’t forget to bring your locks!

 

 ______________________________________________________

Park Site Map and Walk Route Map
The Park Site Map illustrates where the team tents, start/finish line, stages, family teams activities, portable toilets, baby changing and feeding tent, EMS and sales tent are located. 

The Walk Route starts at Auditorium Shores, takes walkers over the First Street Bridge, onto Cesar Chavez and then up Congress Avenue.  Walkers will then turn at 10th Street and then the route reverses back to Auditorium Shores.

Click here for a map of the Park Site
Click here for a map of the Walk Route

 _______________________________________________________

 

Lastly, remember we'll be texting to give! Showing your support of the March of Dimes is as easy as 20222!  We are asking each walker to bring their cell phones to the walk on May 4th and during the event text Baby to 20222 to make a $10 donation to March for Babies.  No need to wait until May 4th, though!  You can ask your friends and family to donate right now! 

 

We cannot wait to see all of you family teams on Saturday morning! Please do not hesitate to email sbhat@marchofdimes.com with any questions you may have!

 

 

10 Things to do in 10 Days!

Family Teams! There are only 10 days till March for Babies 2013! I can’t believe we are almost there. Whether you are a veteran team or a team that joined last week, you have all done such an amazing job so far! Since we only have 10 days left, here is a list of 10 things you can do in the next 10 days:

1)      Sell Butterflies! I know we push butterflies a lot, but they are such an amazing gift. Not only do they honor a child, but also, all the proceeds from your butterfly sales can easily go to your team. This is one of the only fundraising methods where your donors can give to your team and get a gift in return! Your team can also walk with the butterflies as a representation of who you all are walking for.  The last day to purchase a butterfly is Friday, April 26^th.

a.       How do you purchase a butterfly?

·   Visit http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/austinbutterflygarden

·   Donate a minimum of $25 per butterfly.

·   Email kkormas@marchofdimes.com with the child's name and/or birthdate, weeks gestation, and the color of butterfly that you wish to be displayed. The subject of the message should be Attn: Butterfly.

·   If you or your donors would like the butterfly donation to go towards a specific team's overall goal, in the email, please indicate Your Name, and the Team Name along with the details listed in #3.

 

Butterfly Colors:
Purple- Healthy Baby
Yellow- Baby born with a birth defect
Green- Baby born prematurely
White- In memory of a baby

 

2)      Text to Give! Text the word BABY to 20222 to make a $10 donation to March for Babies. Show your support of the March of bringing your cell phone to the walk on May 4th and during the event text Baby to 20222. No need to wait until May 4th, though! You can ask your friends and family to donate right now!

 

3)      Send an Email Blast! Emails are one of the best ways to reach out to your friends and family, remind them why you are walking this year and ask for their support. This is a great opportunity to update them on what you have been doing to reach your goal and how close you are to that goal. Attach pictures of your team to get people excited!

 

4)      Come to a Bank Day! The March of Dimes – Austin is hosting two Bank Days on Tuesday, April 30 and Wednesday, May 1 from 10-6pm. Bank Days give you the opportunity to turn in any money that you have raised from family, friends, or team fundraising events. This is also the only scheduled opportunity you will have to pick up your team's incentive t-shirts, and pick up your butterflies.
     Bank Days will be held at:

March of Dimes Office

11044 Research Blvd.

A-210

Austin, TX 78759

 

Donations may also be turned in at the walk at the Registration Tent.

 

5)      Ask your Facebook friends! A few of our March of Dimes staff members posted the link to their team page to their Facebook profiles saying things like “I am $150 dollars away from my March for Babies goal. If only 150 of my 500 Facebook friends donate $1 to my March for Babies campaign, I will be able to reach my goal! Please consider supporting the March of Dimes.” You will be surprised by the response you will get!

 

6)      Post a countdown to social media! Whether you use Facebook or Twitter, count down the next 10 days leading up to the walk on May 4^th. It’s a great way to inform people about March of Dimes, get your team members pumped about the walk, and do some final fundraising!

 

7)      Fill a coin box! Check your car, home, and work desk for loose change and put it in a coin box. You can also put children in your life in charge of filling a coin box. It is a wonderful way for them to be involved and learn the value of working towards helping others!

 

8)       Host a bake sale! Don’t be discouraged by the chilly or rainy weather. Ask local businesses or schools if you can host bake sales in their lobbies to help you reach your March for Babies goal in the next 10 days. Check out our Facebook page to learn about Riley, from team Celebrate Jett, who raised over $200 with a bake sale!

 

9)      Communicate with your team members! Thank them for being a part of your team this year and supporting you. Coming together to talk about why your walking or your 10 days strategy will really bond your team together and get everyone excited about walking on May 4^th!

 

10)   Make sure you have everything for walk day! If you are bringing a tent, remember that you MUST have it set up Friday, May 3^rd, between 9AM and 5PM. If you are making deliveries (food, drinks, games, etc.) this must be done before 7AM on Saturday, May 4^th. If you are making a delivery you will need a delivery pass. If you have not done so, please email kkormas@marchofdimes.com with your name and address so we can mail your pass to you this week. Also, if you will be bringing a Propane BBQ, please contact Katerina Kormas at kkormas@marchofdimes.com or 512-568-3443 for special instructions.

 

There’s probably more you can do this week, but these 10 things should keep you and your family team busy for the next 10 days! As always, keep up the great work, family teams. Check back here next week for information on the walk schedule, parking, food, games and more!

17 Days till March for Babies 2013!

March for Babies - Austin is only 17 days away!

Can you believe it’s coming up so soon? I want to take a moment to thank you all so much for all your support of this year's event. Since the event is fast approaching, today’s blog post will be about important reminders and logistics before walk day!

Your Reward for Helping Babies

We all know the real reward is knowing that you are helping babies, but below are some gifts, which are our way to say thank you for your efforts.

$200: March for Babies T-shirt

$350: $15 gift card* and T-shirt

$500: $25 gift card* and T-shirt

$1,000: $50 gift card* and T-shirt

$2,500: $125 gift card* and T-shirt

$5,000: $250 gift card* and T-shirt

$10,000: $500 gift card* and T-shirt

$20,000: $600 gift card* and T-shirt

In honor of our 75th anniversary, fundraising totals of $750 or more will earn you a commemorative pin in addition to a gift card and T-shirt. Raise $7,500 or more and receive a writing pen and pin in addition to a gift card and T-shirt.

*You may choose a Macy's or Kmart gift card, or decline your gift card allowing the funds to help advance the March of Dimes mission.

Tents! FINAL REMINDER

Would you like to have a tent at March for Babies? Many teams gather together with family and friends before and after the walk for food and fun. You can rent a tent for your team to gather under from Adam’s Canopy, the tent company we use, or bring your own tent. Either way, if you would like a tent (or space for your own) at Auditorium Shores that day, please contact Katerina Kormas at kkormas@marchofdimes.comfor more information.

Deadline for ordering tents is TODAY, Wednesday, April 17^th.

Bank Days

March of Dimes will host two Bank Days on Tuesday, April 30 and Wednesday, May 1 from 10-6pm. Bank Days give you the opportunity to turn in any money that you have raised from family, friends, or team fundraising events. This is also the only scheduled opportunity you will have to pick up your team's incentive t-shirts, and pick up your butterflies.

Bank Days will be held at:

March of Dimes Office

11044 Research Blvd.

A-210

Austin, TX 78759

March for Babies Butterflies

Last week we talked about honoring a baby in your life by purchasing a March for Babies Butterfly. Butterflies can be purchased for a minimum donation of $25. Each butterfly will have one child’s name and birthdate printed on it. Butterflies can be carried by team members during the walk. Visit www.marchforbabies.org/team/austinbutterflygarden to purchase your butterfly. (Butterflies can only be purchased via above link or contact Katerina Kormas at kkormas@marchofdimes.com for an order form). Teams will get credit for each butterfly sold. Butterflies can be picked up at Bank Days on April 30 and May 1 from 10-6pm or at the Product Sales tent at the event.

Matching Gifts

It is easy to double your fundraising totals. Encourage your
donors to check with their employers to see if they have a matching gift
policy. This is an easy way to raise more money!

Lastly, here are the Top 10 Family Teams for this week!

Team Sawyer & Tristan

Cater the Great

Celebrate Jett

- Preemie Power -

Austin Mothers of Multiples(AMOM)

Two Boys and a Little Lady

Camille's Crew

Give with Grace

Jackie's Peeps

The Ignal Twins

We are less than a month away from March for Babies 2013. We can do it Family Teams! Check back here for more updates on the walk on May 4^th. We will include information on the event day schedule, parking, tent set-up, park restrictions, entertainment and other reminders. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on May 4th! 

Butterflies for Babies!

If you've walked with us in the past, you may remember our the Butterfly Garden in honor of the children who have affected our lives. This year we're doing things a little differently by offering beautiful butterfly signs to be carried by your team at the walk. They are also great for family and friends who want to display them in the yard!

What are they benefits of buying a butterfly?

• Each butterfly sign is a beautiful way to honor any special child in your life.
• A butterfly purchase can be credited to your team, so it is a great gift for people who support your team.
• These great butterfly signs can be carried by team members during the walk to remind everyone who they are walking for.

Honor a special baby in your life by purchasing a Butterfly to be carried by your team at the walk. This is a great way to honor ALL babies....those born healthy, prematurely, with a birth defect, and those who have passed away

Butterflies can be purchased for a minimum donation of $25.00/butterfly. Each butterfly will have a baby's name and birthday printed on it. Butterflies can be picked up at the March of Dimes office on April 30 or May 1 or picked up at the Product Sales tent at the walk.

How do you purchase a butterfly?

1. Visit http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/austinbutterflygarden 
2. Donate a minimum of $25 per butterfly.
3. Email kkormas@marchofdimes.com with the child's name and/or birthdate, weeks gestation, and the color of butterfly that you wish to be displayed. The subject of the message should be Attn: Butterfly.
4. If you or your donors would like the butterfly donation to go towards a specific team's overall goal, in the email, please indicate Your Name, and the Team Name along with the details listed in #3.

Butterfly Colors:
Purple- Healthy Baby
Yellow- Baby born with a birth defect
Green- Baby born prematurely
White- In memory of a baby


Encouraging team members, friends, and family to purchase a butterfly is a great way to reach your team goal, and thank your donors. They are also a wonderful celebrate babies at the walk! Please email sbhat@marchofdimes.com or visit http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/austinbutterflygarden if you have any questions.


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Also, congratulations to Emily and Justin Barclay from team Might Max Barclay for winning our incentive to walkers to raise over $50 in one week! We will be emailing you about your prize very soon!

How to Reach Your Goal

Hello Family Teams!

March for Babies season is in full swing so I thought we could spend some time talking about what you and your team can be doing right now to reach your goal! Sometime reaching our goals can be daunting, but by combining a few different you and your team can be there in no time! Here are some methods used by teams on our Family Teams Committee that have worked over the years:

Coinboxes
Coinboxes are a great, easy way to involve your community. Ask your friends to help you reach your goal by handing them out in your neighborhood, at church or at work. Stop by the March of Dimes office to pick up coinboxes. Then, fill the box with

• dimes to raise about $80!
• quarters to raise about $100! 
• dollars to raise about $50!

Personalized Wristbands and T-Shirts
Any personalized items with your team name can help you fundraise as well as raise community awareness. Contact a local tshirt or wristband company, share your story, and ask for a discounted rate in return for their logo on your shirt or band. You can then sell the items to team members, friends and family to reach your goal!

Family Team Sponsorship
If you know someone who owns a small business, see if they would be interested in supporting you by being a Family Team Sponsor! Check out our previous post to learn about this easy way to fundraise.

Host an event
Many of our top teams from previous years have had a lot of success by hosting an event! You can put on a tournament, have a garage sale, or even host a party for your friends with companies like Thirty-One Gits (http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/ )!

Email and use social media
Emailing is probably the best way to reach out to your family and friends. All you have to do is share your story and ask for support! To make it easier to share your story through social media, you can make a video or picture slideshow.

Another great way to get people to your team page is to change your URL to your team name. To do this, follow the instructions below.

1.      Log in to your account.

2.      Make sure your team page is selected.

3.      Click on “Edit Team Information”

4.      Then select “Edit Address”

5.      Scroll down and there will be a space to create your vanity URL.

6.      Save your changes and you’re set!

The last thing I will leave you with is a list of our Top 10 Family Teams for this week! Keep up the great work Family Teams!

Team Sawyer & Tristan

Cater the Great

Austin Mothers of Multiples(AMOM)

Celebrate Jett

- Preemie Power -

Camille's Crew

Two Boys and a Little Lady

C A Sexton

Team Bond

If you have any questiosn regarding the fundraising methods listed above, please contact sbhat@marchofdimes.com. Check back next week to learn about a great incentive for veteran teams, walk details, tent information, and more!

Team Standings for Week of 3/22!

 Congrats to the teams in our Top 10 this week!

Team Name	Actual $
Team Sawyer & Tristan	6,510
Austin Mothers of Multiples(AMOM)	3,005
Cater the Great	2,785
- Preemie Power -	1,925
Celebrate Jett	1,381
Two Boys and a Little Lady	1,370
Camille's Crew	1,365
Team Bond	995
Angels for Gabriel	675
Team Kiley Lynn	650
C A Sexton	650

 

 

Where does the money go?

If you’re part of an Austin family team, the March of Dimes mission may have impacted your life in one way or another. This year, Austin’s overall goal for March for Babies is $1 million. You may be asking yourself, where does that money go? Well, today on the Austin Family Teams blog, we’re going to discover where exactly the money goes!

 

First, we need to understand the severity of prematurity in Texas. In an average week in Texas 7,723 babies are born, 1,001 of those babies are born premature. That means 1 out of 8 babies is born premature each year in Texas. Prematurity is the leading cause of death before the age of one and birth defects are the leading cause of infant death. This is a real problem in Texas and more than $26.2 billion annually is spent on medical costs, education and lost productivity due to prematurity.

 

The March of Dimes mission is to prevent premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Through research and grants we have been able to find cures and prevention for many birth defects. Along with research, the March of Dimes also provides funding and support for a variety of signature prenatal education programs that have been shown to improve birth outcomes among participants. Learn about some of these programs below:

 

Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien

This program was created specifically to provide information that is culturally sensitive and relevant for Hispanic women and designed to improve participants’ chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.  

 

CenteringPregnancy

Centering includes health care assessment, education, and support, provided in a group setting facilitated by a credentialed health care provider.

 

 

Honey Child

Honey Child is a faith-based prenatal education program providing African-American women with information and support to have the healthiest possible pregnancy.

 

 

These programs are just the tip of the iceberg of what the March of Dimes does to lower the prematurity rate in Texas, and across the nation. Feel free to share information on where the money goes along to your family and friends to inspire them in supporting your team!

 

Check back next week for more tips on fundraising and incentivizing your walkers! In the meantime, comment below to tell us how March of Dimes programs have affected your life!