Blue Jeans for Babies

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Pike County businesses are being given a chance to save lives.

The March of Dimes Pike County Community Council is planning a Blue Jeans for Babies fund raiser for Aug. 24.

Dianne Smith, who is coordinating Blue Jeans for Babies, is urging area businesses to "give more babies a healthy start in life."

When one considers more than 10 of every 1,000 babies born in Alabama will die before celebrating their first birthday, the cost of a button or t-shirt is nothing, Smith said.

For that reason, the March of Dimes is fighting against birth defects, low birth weight babies and infant death through events like Blue Jeans for Babies and the annual WalkAmerica event.

This year, the 20 counties in the March of Dimes Central Division in Alabama will be holding Blue Jeans for Babies on the same day, Smith said.

Doing that is easy, Smith said. All a business has to do is encourage employees to purchase either a t-shirt or a button.

T-shirts are $10 for small through X-large and $12 for sizes XXL and XXXL. Buttons are $5 each. They feature names of the 20 counties and the March of Dimes logo.

Orders must be turned in by July 27 and can be picked up between noon and 2 p.m., Aug. 21 at Pike Manor Health Care Center on Elba Highway.

Smith said 600 Blue Jeans for Babies shirts were sold in Pike County last year and the goal is to sell 1,000, this year.

Wearing jeans or casual clothes to work is great way to help the March of Dimes and save babies, she said.

Businesses can also help through sponsorships. Sponsorship opportunities are: Flare Jeans Sponsor for a $500 donation, Straight Leg Sponsor for a $250 donation and Denim Sponsor for a donation of $100.

Sponsors for the event include; WSFA, Pike Manor Health Care Center, Southern Springs and Luverne Nursing Facility.

One of country music’s most famous, Wynonna, knows "love can build a bridge" and that is why she is this year’s national celebrity spokewoman for March of Dimes Blue Jeans for Babies.

"Being a mother of two healthy and terrific children is one of the greatest joys of my life," Wynonna is quoted as saying in the brochure for the event. "That’s why I want everybody to join Blue Jeans for Babies, so that every baby can get the chance for a healthy birth ­ and every mom can have the wonderful experience that I’ve had."

Of the money raised through Blue Jeans for Babies, 75 percent goes right into research and programs that bring awareness to preventing birth defects.

For more information about Blue Jeans for Babies, contact Smith at 566-9565.