BabyFit.com Becomes a National Sponsor of March of Dimes WalkAmerica $2 Million to Help Save Babies

CINCINNATI, Ohio — BabyFit.com, the first and only online healthy pregnancy planner, has committed to donate $2 million in cash and in-kind promotion to the March of Dimes over the next three years, BabyFit.com Founder and CEO Chris Downie announced today.

“We are a very mission-based company. When we saw an opportunity to use our site to help the March of Dimes in their fight against premature births, birth defects and infant mortality, we knew it was something we just had to do,” Downie said. “BabyFit’s core philosophy is that healthy babies start with healthy moms. We’ve made a commitment to that philosophy not only by providing pregnant women with free healthy pregnancy resources and tools on BabyFit.com, but also by supporting the important work of the March of Dimes with this large financial commitment.”

This sponsorship has been integrated into BabyFit.com’s Healthy Mom Challenge, an action campaign designed to motivate expectant mothers to stay healthy and fit during pregnancy. To encourage moms-to-be, each participant in the Healthy Mom Challenge will earn “BabyPoints” for using the site to monitor nutritional intake, track exercise, read pregnancy and parenting articles, and connect with other moms and pregnancy experts on the BabyFit message boards.

For each 100 “BabyPoints” moms earn, BabyFit will donate one dime to the March of Dimes—totaling at least $150,000 per year for the next three years. March of Dimes will also receive at least $500,000 of in-kind advertising annually. These contributions will help fund ongoing research into the causes and prevention of pre-term birth, birth defects, and infant mortality.

"We’re delighted that Babyfit.com has joined forces with the March of Dimes,” said Robert Lucas, Senior Vice President of Revenue Development for the March of Dimes. "Together, we hope to reach millions of women with vital information about how they can improve their chances of having a healthy baby and giving all babies the full nine months they deserve.”

“BabyPoints are a great motivator,” said Leisy Abrego, BabyFit.com member from Los Angeles, Calif. “The points force you to be more aware of what you are eating, especially day after day. They’re great reminders to stay healthy, exercise often and it just feels good to check off goals on a daily basis. It makes me feel like I’m being successful at something.” Now that March of Dimes donations are part of The Healthy Mom Challenge, expectant moms have even more motivation to take healthful action—for the health of their own babies, and to help the March of Dimes save even more babies.

About BabyFit.com
BabyFit.com, the first and only online healthy pregnancy planner, was created in 2000 when nearly all the employees of an online wellness company were expecting their first child within the span of a year. Designed for health-conscious women who want to have the healthiest pregnancy possible, BabyFit provides each user with a personalized healthy pregnancy program, expert advice, and encouraging peer support. To inspire pregnant women to take healthful action, BabyFit created the annual Healthy Mom Challenge. The challenge rewards moms for healthy behaviors, while raising money for the March of Dimes. To find out more about why healthy babies start with healthy moms, go to www.babyfit.com.

About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.