March of Dimes

Hi, I’m Rebecca Reed, and I’m reaching out to you to support an incredible cause: the March of Dimes. Their mission is to ensure the health of all moms and babies, and every contribution can help make a real difference in countless lives.

Your donations will directly support their vital work, helping to:

• Provide essential resources and support for families facing pregnancy challenges.
• Fund groundbreaking research aimed at preventing premature births and improving maternal health.

With your help, we can create a brighter, healthier future for our community. Please consider donating to this worthy cause and join me in making a lasting impact on the lives of moms and their little ones.

• Provide essential resources and support for pregnant women, ensuring healthier pregnancies and outcomes.
• Fund groundbreaking research aimed at preventing premature birth and improving maternal and infant health.

My name is Joelle Quaye, and I am honored to be a contestant in the 2026 Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant, hosted by the Delta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. A significant part of this pageant involves raising funds for March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing critical issues affecting moms and babies, including prematurity, health equity, and maternal and infant mortality. March of Dimes provides programs for health equity to create a world where every family, mother, and baby are healthy, regardless of wealth, race, gender or geography. Your support and donations would mean so much in helping to make a meaningful difference. Thank you!

Your donations will help March of Dimes continue their vital mission by:

• Funding research and innovations to improve prenatal care and outcomes for mothers and their babies.
• Providing essential resources and support to families facing complications during pregnancy and birth.

Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to a future where every mom and baby is healthy and thriving. Let’s come together as a community to support March of Dimes and ensure a brighter tomorrow for families everywhere. Thank you for your generosity!

Read why this charity hits home with the Bernardo Family...

The reason I chose the March of Dimes as my charity of choice is because they hold a dear place in my families hearts and have become a part of my life story. In 2019, my twins, Luke and Layla, were born premature at just 26 weeks weighing in at 2lb’s and 1lb 11oz. Premature birth is considered any baby born before 37 weeks and is the leading cause of newborn deaths in the United States. The March of Dimes efforts focus on the growing problem of premature birth and works to help improve the health of mothers and babies.

Having twins, let alone premature twins, is not something you plan for or expect to happen. When my wife and I found out we were having two babies instead of one, we were in total shock. Already having a six year old daughter at home, the thought was exciting, yet terrifying. When my wife went into emergency labor at 26 weeks, being terrified became an understatement. I was now faced with possibly not only losing Luke and Layla, but also losing my wife.

Thankfully, she survived, and the babies were successfully delivered but put straight in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They
were so helpless, extremely tiny and were there for four and a half months fighting for their lives each and every day.

During our time at the hospital, The March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program helped us in more ways than one. From day one, they provided educational materials, CPR and other relevant courses, networking opportunities with other NICU families, organized arts and crafts events and most importantly, provided my entire family emotional support. All the resources they provided were relevant to many of the issues that we faced and answers to questions that we had. They truly helped us throughout the most difficult time of our lives.

Today, both Luke and Layla are thriving and love their big sister Angelina. They are filled with nothing but joy and grow stronger every day.