Ron Gettelfinger

Labor Voices: Private effort invests in healthy babies

Franklin Roosevelt's body was disabled by polio -- but his spirit was never broken, and his compassion to help others never faltered.

As president, Roosevelt confronted the enormous challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. But he never forgot about his fellow polio sufferers. In 1937, he founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to "lead, direct and unify the fight on every phase of this sickness."

Children and families across the nation began collecting dimes to fund research for a polio vaccine, and the organization soon became known as the March of Dimes. After Roosevelt died in 1946, a new dime was minted in his honor, in recognition of his work to eradicate polio.

In 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk -- using funds raised by the March of Dimes -- developed a safe, effective polio vaccine. With a once-dreaded disease largely eliminated, the March of Dimes now works to offer every baby a chance for a healthy future, with a focus on preventing premature births, birth defects and infant mortality.

In recognition of the many volunteer contributions to the March of Dimes by United Auto Workers members, I have been asked to be a co-chair of this year's March for Babies campaign, along with Alan Mulally, the chief executive of Ford Motor Co. We are committed to helping this grass-roots effort reach its $100 million fund-raising goal.

Some may wonder how we can aim so high at a time when so many Americans are still suffering the effects of the most severe recession in decades. But the real question is: Can we afford not to support the March for Babies?

One out of every eight babies in the United States is born prematurely. That's nearly half a million premature babies a year. Some are so tiny they could fit in the palm of your hand, and they spend weeks struggling for life in neonatal intensive care units.

Every baby born too soon is at risk for birth defects and childhood diseases. To take just one example, a baby who is born even a few weeks early has a three times greater risk of cerebral palsy than a baby carried to full term.

Imagine the costs to that child, the family and all of us who are associated with this increased risk of a serious birth defect. The research and community intervention programs supported by the March of Dimes are a critical investment, one that will pay dividends for years to come in the form of healthy children and healthy families.

Here in Michigan, thousands of people participated in the March for Babies walk last spring, in communities stretching from Marquette to Monroe. A significant share of the funds raised by local volunteers remains here in Michigan, supporting efforts such as a healthy start program for high-risk pregnancies in Saginaw; education and outreach for rural mothers near Houghton, who live far from doctors and clinics; and a study of effective models of prenatal care at Wayne State University's College of Nursing.

It's not too early to visit MarchforBabies.com to plan for participation in next spring's event by your local union, company, congregation or community organization. And when a volunteer asks you to join the cause, please remember: Every dime makes a difference.

Ron Gettelfinger is president of the United Auto Workers.