MARCH OF DIMES
NEW JERSEY CHAPTER
5 Cedarbrook Drive.
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 655-7400 phone
(609) 655-1520 fax
1-800-Big-Walk
Email [email protected]
Website http://www.marchofdimes.com
NORTH JERSEY
55 US Highway 46 East P.O. Box 642
Pine Brook, NJ 07058
(973) 882-0700 phone
(973) 882-0716 fax
CENTRAL JERSEY
5 Cedarbrook Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 655-7400 phone
(609) 655-1520 fax
SOUTH JERSEY
1030 N. Kings Highway
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
(856) 667-2220 phone
(856) 667-5517 fax
March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter
Prematurity Awareness Month
Parties for Babies
FACT SHEET
What: Prematurity Awareness Month Parties for Babies are small or large get-togethers, hosted in
homes and halls, all to help raise awareness about the prematurity crisis in this country. Each attendee
is asked to make a personal donation. The amount of this personal donation is determined by the host
($10.00 or more per person is suggested).
When: Any day and time during the month of November! Volunteer hosts select the date and time that
works best for them.
Where: Your house or at a neighbor’s, anyplace that means fun for you! Parks, church halls,
or your
own living room…can
firehouses,
all be the setting for a day/night of fun and awareness!
2007 Honorees: All babies, all moms, all families!
Host Responsibilities: Hosts will send the invitations, provide the refreshments and the location, and
agree to raise awareness and funds.
March of Dimes Responsibilities: The March of Dimes will provide a packet of information that
includes a sample invitation, decorating ideas, folate rich recipes of foods to serve, instructions for
sending in donations collected at the party, and materials for spreading the word about the March of
Dimes urgent mission and the premature birth crisis.
For more information, please contact:
Donna Reed Zaleski or Shannon Hurley
March of Dimes
New Jersey Chapter
609-655-7400
[email protected] or [email protected]
SAMPLE INVITATION
You’re Invited!
Please join me/us as we
PARTY FOR BABIES!
WHAT:
Wine & Cheese/Dessert/Dinner Party
WHERE: My Home, ADDRESS, CITY
WHEN:
WHY:
HOW:
November ##, 2007
To celebrate all the healthy babies in our lives,
and to raise money to support research and
programs to give MORE babies a healthy start!
RSVP to EMAIL OR PHONE by DATE, and
bring a $25 donation for the March of Dimes
Prematurity Awareness Month
November 2007
March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter
Prematurity Awareness Month
Parties for Babies
Decoration Ideas
Be sure that everyone attending your party knows that they are there for the March of Dimes!
Some clever ways to do this include:
• Put up pink and blue lights on your front porch, walkway, door, etc.
• Encourage guests to wear pink and blue.
• Set up an area or table for March of Dimes mission information. This would be a great
spot to place a box to collect your guests’ donations.
• Use pink and blue tablecloths.
• Display pink and blue balloons.
• Provide pink and blue paper plates, napkins, cups and plasticware.
• Use diapers, baby booties, rattles, baby bottles, etc. as table centerpieces.
• Use Baby’s Breath in floral arrangements.
• Give out packets of Baby’s Breath and/or Sweet Pea flower seeds as favors.
• Fill baby bottles with pink and blue jelly beans or M&Ms and use as party favors or table
centerpieces (you can even give them away at the end of the party using a fun party game!).
• Put baby shower-themed confetti on tables.
• Be sure to take photos and email or send copies to the March of Dimes. Your party might
be featured on our website!
Please contact the March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter for more ideas and information.
March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter
5 Cedar Brook Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512
P: 609-655-7400
F: 609-655-1520
[email protected]
marchofdimes.com/newjersey
March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter
Prematurity Awareness Month
Parties for Babies
Recipe Ideas
You can feed your guests and educate them too! Try out these recipes which
are rich in folic acid.
Folic acid:
• Helps pregnant women reduce their risk of having a baby with birth
defects of the brain and spine
• Boosts heart health in all people
• Can be found in a multivitamin and in leafy green vegetables, fortified
grain foods, legumes, and citrus fruits and juices.
Three Bean Chipotle Chili
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes, with juice
3 tbsp. canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or jalapeno peppers (to taste), chopped
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained
1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, drained
1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, drained
Preparation
Cook meat, onion, and garlic in large saucepan over medium heat for 3 minutes; drain.
Add chili powder, cumin, undrained tomatoes, and chipotle peppers. Cook 10 minutes or until
thickened, stirring occasionally. Add beans; cook 5 minutes. Serve with cilantro, avocado, and
sour cream, if desired.
March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter
Prematurity Awareness Month
Parties for Babies
More Recipe Ideas
Strawberry Citrus Punch
Ingredients
1 can (12 oz.) frozen pink lemonade concentrate
1 small can (6 oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate
1 package (10 oz.) frozen strawberries in syrup
3 cups water
1 bottle (28 oz.) cold ginger ale
Ice
Preparation
In punch bowl, combine lemonade and orange juice concentrates, strawberries, and water.
Refrigerate. At serving time, pour ginger ale into juice mixture in bowl. Add ice ring or cubes
and stir well.
Makes about 2 1/2 quarts.
Spinach Dip
Ingredients
1 block (8 oz.) cream cheese
8 oz. (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese or cheddar/mozzarella cheese mix
1 frozen box of chopped spinach
1 medium tomato
1 small onion (white, yellow or red)
Tortilla chips, crusty bread, or both to dip with.
Preparation
Thaw the spinach and chop up the tomato and onion.
Mix all ingredients except the chips, stir to mix. Heat in microwave on medium to medium-high
heat until cheese is melted, about 6-8 minutes. Stir about halfway through cooking.
One creative option - hollow out a loaf of crusty Italian bread and scoop the dip into the
hollowed out crust!
Please contact the March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter for more ideas and information.
March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter
5 Cedar Brook Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512
P: 609-655-7400
F: 609-655-1520
[email protected]
marchofdimes.com/newjersey