Ice Skate for Babies (Rescheduled for March 2)

Due to a winter snow storm, this event has been rescheduled for March 2.

Ice Skate for Babies, a Family night of skating and raffles to benefit the March of Dimes is Saturday February 9, 2013 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Connecticut College – Dayton Arena 270 Mohegan Ave, New London CT

$10 per adult/$5 per child Rental skates available $5

100% of proceeds benefit the March of Dimes in its efforts of

Working together for stronger, healthier babies and to ensure that all babies come home

Here’s the details….

Last week was the 75th anniversary of when President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the March of Dimes to create a new force in the fight against epidemic polio. Today polio is almost eliminated.  Its original mission accomplished, the foundation turned its focus to preventing birth defects and infant mortality. The March of Dimes has led the way to discover the genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. The March of Dimes has supported research for surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress and helped initiate the system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies. Their recent Folic Acid Campaign achieved a dramatic reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects, birth defects of the brain and spine.

For those who don’t know, our daughter Molly was born at 29 weeks and her weight bottomed out at 2 lbs 4 ounces. After just over 2 months in Yale's Newborn Intensive Care Unit she was able to come home. Today Molly is a thriving 4 1/2 year old. We are grateful to the March of Dimes for the research that they do. If Molly was born even a decade ago the outcome may have been very different. Unfortunately, not all of the babies survive. 

My wife and I are pleased to announce the kick off of our 2013 March for Babies campaign.  We have three ways you can help

 1)      On February 9th, from 6:30-9:00 p.m., we invite you to join us at Connecticut College’s Dayton Arena for our second annual “Ice Skate for Babies” skating event to raise money for the March of Dimes. We are also organizing a fun raffle for this outing. Please invite anyone who wants to attend or if you know of any businesses interested in donating please forward our donation request package above.

To date we have received tremendous support from the business community and have some great silent auction and raffle items (for example sky boxes donated by CT Tigers Baseball and CT Whale)!  Please support these generous businesses!  

Donations are still coming in but so far we have received donations from the following business (with additional verbal commitments) Book Barn Niantic, Boston College Hockey, Boston Red Sox, Bronx Zoo-Wildlife Conservation Society, CT Tigers, CT Whale, , Children's Museum of Southeastern CT, Fishing Vessel Northwestern from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch,  Florence Griswold Museum, Galaxy Roller Rink, Ilianos, JTK Management Restaurants, The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Kid City, Lake Compounce, Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, Michael Jordan’s Restaurants, Mohegan Tribe, New Britain Rock Cats, New England Revolution-Major League Soccer,  New York Football Giants, Norwich Ice Rink, Paul Junior Designs from Discovery Channel’s American Chopper,  Providence Bruins,  Providence College Hockey, Roger Williams Zoo, South Eastern Connecticut Youth Hockey, Target, Trek Bicycles-Clarke Cycles, Waterford Family Bowl,  

Additionally, come see Ainsely McGill put on a figure skating exhibition. Ainsley is 16 from Old Lyme, CT and is a U.S. National Silver Medalist, Three-time U.S. National Qualifier and Three-time New England Regional Medalist who skates in Simsbury CT with coaches Vladimir and Elena Petrenko. Here’s a video of her skating in the 2013 New England Regionals.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr6siRjX1kk

We’ve created a Facebook page to raise awareness of the event as the more people who come the better the event will be.   We will update the facebook page as additional sponsorships are received so please like us on Facebook and invite your other friends as we want to recognize all of our sponsors on-line.   To find us on facebook simply search for Skate for Babies March of Dimes

 2        The March for Babies walk is on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Amy and I have been asked to be the ambassadors for this year’s walk and we are honored to do so. I hope many family and friends will be able to walk this year.  The location will again be at the Old Mystic Village, 27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355,  Registration Time: 7:30 AM Start Time: 8:30 AM.  If you are able to join us please consider joining our team and raising funds.  You can set up your own fundraising website by clicking on http://www.marchforbabies.org/COOPE05809  and selecting “Walk With Me.”   If you prefer, I can send you a March for Babies collection envelope.

 3        If you are unable to make it to the skating event or the walk but would still like to donate it is much appreciated.  Please click on  http://www.marchforbabies.org/COOPE05809  and select “Donate Now”  or reach out to me for my mailing address if you prefer to donate by check.