Centennial School District Faculty and Staff wear "Blue Jeans for Babies" and raise $1,314.00 for March of Dimes

Centennial School District Faculty and Staff collaborated with the March of Dimes this year to raise awareness for the mission of prematurity awareness. Centennial employees joined together and raised $1,314.00 for the cause by wearing "Blue Jeans for Babies" on November 1st.

Cheryl Brooks, an Education Initiative Volunteer for March of Dimes and her husband, Harris Brooks who works on the Board of Trustees for the March of Dimes will be presented with a check at the November 26th Centennial School District Board meeting. Cheryl and Harris will also make a presentation about the March of Dimes mission and school programs. The Brooks family lives in the Centennial School District and their daughter is a former graduate of William Tennent High School.

Dr. Joyce Mundy, Superintendent said "Centennial School District is grateful to the charitable work that Cheryl and Harris Brooks do for the March of Dimes to help save babies lives. We appreciate that we were able to create a partnership with them. We are so proud to work in Centennial School District where the faculty and staff are so giving and support all children."

In observance of National Prematurity Birth Awareness Month many Centennial School District employees wore their "Blue Jeans for Babies" along with pink and blue shirts to school. The March of Dimes fundraiser encouraged employees to dress casual in exchange for a monetary donation. It was a great way for the district to become more aware of the mission of March of Dimes. The timing of the dress down day complemented the worldwide effort to bring awareness to premature births.

More than 450,000 babies are born too soon each year. With a grade of "C" the United States has a long way to go in reducing our rate of premature birth. With 1 in 9 babies born too soon, our country's rate is higher than that of most developed nations. The money raised from "Blue Jeans for Babies" will help support March of Dimes in their research, education and programs that help all moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.