Wright State rallies for March of Dimes

Front row, left to right: Dawn Kilby (WSU 2004); Jacalyn “Jackie” Allen, director, Dayton Division March of Dimes; Daisha Dansby, daughter of Dawn Kilby; DeMarrione “Marri” Dansby, daughter of Dawn Kilby and ambassador, 2012 Miami Valley March for Babies; and Anna Kilby, mother of Dawn Kilby, grandmother of Daisha and Marri and Hangar employee. Back row: Jacqueline McMillan, vice president for enrollment management; and President David R. Hopkins.

Wright State students, faculty, staff and alumni turned out Feb. 22 for a rally in the Student Union Atrium to enjoy ice cream and learn about this year’s Miami Valley March for Babies fundraising campaign for the March of Dimes.

President David R. Hopkins, who is chairing this year’s campaign with his wife Angelia, introduced this year’s March for Babies Ambassador, DeMarrione “Marri” Dansby, whose mother, Dawn Kilby, a 2004 graduate, was a Wright State student when she delivered Marri 15 weeks early. The March of Dimes funds research to fight premature births and improve the health of babies.

Dawn and her mother, Anna Kilby, a Hangar dining hall employee, were also on hand. Hopkins praised the “wonderful ties” Marri’s family has to Wright State and suggested there could be more. “I’ve been recruiting (Marri) to be a Wright State student some day,” he said of the 8-year-old.

Wright State is forming teams of walkers who will seek donations for every mile they walk in the three-mile March for Babies on April 28 at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton. Wright State has pledged to support the March of Dimes’ overall goal of $260,000.