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GREATER
MISSOURI CHAPTER, MARCH OF DIMES BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION
By Pam Droog
Stuart Bascomb, vice president of Express Scripts, was concerned
about the weather Saturday, April 26. That was the date of WalkAmerica,
the March of Dimes’ major annual fundraising event. As chairman
of the board of the St. Louis March of Dimes, a sunny day was essential
to Bascomb and the other 34 directors of this vital organization
that works tirelessly to improve the health of babies by preventing
birth defects and infant mortality.
Debbie Kersting, state director of the Greater Missouri Chapter,
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, says St. Louis Division
board members frequently serve longer than their official terms.
“Some have served since 1986. They’re just so committed to the March
of Dimes,” she says. In addition, it’s a diversified board on many
levels.
“We have medical professionals, business people, restaurateurs,
human resources specialists, a lot of industries are represented,”
Kersting says. “There’s social and economic diversity and different
faiths and ages. I think that leads to our success as a board.”
That success can be measured in several ways. One impressive example
is that in 2001, the Missouri March of Dimes raised $2 million and
received back from the national office $2.6 million in research
funds.
“It says a lot about our research centers here that we got more
money back than we raised,” Kersting says.
In 2002 the Missouri chapter distributed more than $95,000 for program
grants to local partner agencies. And recently, the Missouri March
of Dimes was awarded a Healthy Start Grant of $2.2 million to research
the high infant mortality rate, almost 18 percent, in three St.
Louis area Zip codes: 63113, 63120 and 63136.
The agency’s annual operating budget is $2.4 million, Kersting says.
Sixty percent of that amount is raised by WalkAmerica. Statewide,
the staff numbers 23, including four in St. Louis who work strictly
on fundraising. That’s why, she explains, the agency is very volunteer
oriented.
“Four people could never raise all the money we need,” Kersting
says. “As a staff we’re only as good as our volunteers.”
And March of Dimes volunteers are very good, she believes. In Missouri,
only 9 percent of costs go toward fundraising and 6 percent go toward
administration.
“That’s really low,” Kersting says. “A lot of nonprofits are struggling
and last year the Missouri March of Dimes had its best year ever.”
In fact, the chapter placed second in the nation in a recent agency
ranking.
“It’s the volunteers that made that happen,” she says.
The volunteers on the St. Louis Division board meet quarterly. But
each has his or her special niche, Bascomb says, “so the real work
takes place in committee meetings.” Committees include finance,
programming, public affairs, nominating, development and communications.
With WalkAmerica behind it, the board currently is working on a
number of special “signature events.” Kersting explains, “The March
of Dimes had the first walk to raise money. We work hard to make
sure it’s still fresh and fun and to plan other events that people
will respond to. That can be a challenge for an older agency.”
The board also is working on upcoming events including Building
the Community, an awards ceremony for the real estate community;
a golf tournament in July; Bikers for Babies, co-sponsored by Harley-Davidson;
and Star Chefs to be held in the fall, featuring food prepared by
some of the area’s top chefs. The event raised $307,000 last year.
In July, the board will begin to develop a new statewide strategic
plan, Bascomb says, to maintain the momentum that began last year.
“The board is very focused in terms of people wanting to make a
contribution,” he says. “It’s a good board that’s getting stronger
each year.” On its July retreat, the board will plan where it wants
to be in five years.
Greater
Missouri Chapter, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
(Front row, left to right): F. Sessions Cole,
M.D., Joni Karandjeff, Nancy Spewak, Joan Lee Berkman,
Molly Tallarico, Alice F. Pollard-Buckingham, Jan
Torrisi-Mokwa
(Second row, left to right): Lee Clear, Arlene
M. Hyde, Bob Young , Charles F. Urschler, Doug McCollum,
John A. Spesia
(Third row, left to right): Aaron Hamvas, M.D.,
Bart Connors, Marcia Smith Niedringhaus, Wayman Smith
III, Stuart Bascomb, Anne Albrecht
(Fourth row, left to right): Reverend B.T. Rice, Debra
Hollingsworth, Stephen Schott, Marty Hendin, John
Beck
Not pictured: Joan Barry, Michael DeBaun, MD,
MPH, Margie Ellisor, Donna Grelle, Susan Kendig RNC,
MSN, WHCNP, Lesley Levin, LCSW, Sandy McCandless,
Pat Peck, Katie Perko, Connie Porlier,
Thomas Sehnert, Rabbi Susan Talve, Jeffrey L. Winter |
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Also, Kersting adds, the board hopes to expand its Chain Reaction
program from high schoolers to college students, in order to bring
more youth into the agency.
In addition, the agency is actively involved in the March of Dimes’
national $75 million focus on prematurity, which is the leading
cause of birth defects like cerebral palsy, blindness and lung problems.
“Children’s Hospital is doubling its neonatal intensive care unit,
so the reality of prematurity is evident in our community,” Kersting
says. “The March of Dimes is taking the lead in this issue, because
half the time we know why women have babies early, but the other
half of the time doctors don’t know why.”
One thing everyone agrees on is that April 26 could not have been
a more beautiful day for WalkAmerica. More than 4,000 walkers raised
about $900,000 to help the March of Dimes fight prematurity and
birth defects.
Was it luck? Not necessarily, Kersting says.
“We made a donation to the Pink Sisters so they’d pray for good
weather,” she admits.
Pam Droog is a frequent contributor to St. Louis Commerce Magazine.
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