Wright State takes top honors in March of Dimes awards

This year’s March for Babies Ambassador, DeMarrione “Marri” Dansby (center in purple), had a Wright State connection: she is the daughter of 2004 graduate Dawn Kilby and the granddaughter of Anna Dansby, who works in the Hangar dining hall.

The March of Dimes’ 2012 Miami Valley March for Babies fundraising campaign exceeded its goal this year with help from Wright State University, the charity’s Dayton director said Monday, June 18.

Corporations, families and individuals have raised $268,000 “to date,” surpassing its community goal of $260,000, Jacalyn Allen, executive director of the Dayton office, said at an awards ceremony held in the Dayton Marriott Hotel. Some teams are continuing to hold fundraising activities, she said.

Wright State University took top place among corporate teams for raising in excess of $50,000; at last count, the university had raised approximately $52,000.

Contributing to that total, the Wright State Grandparents’ team raised $1,885, ranking it sixth among all walking teams.

Many volunteers formed or joined teams that collected donations for walking in the annual march. It culminated Saturday, April 28, in a three-mile walk at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton. Despite chilly temperatures and the threat of rain, “We believe we had somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 walkers,” Allen said.

Wright State President David R. Hopkins and his wife Angelia served as co-chairs for this year’s campaign. In addition, hundreds of faculty, staff and students walked, raised money or donated.

Even this year’s March for Babies Ambassador, DeMarrione “Marri” Dansby, had a Wright State connection: she is the daughter of 2004 graduate Dawn Kilby and the granddaughter of Anna Dansby, who works in the Hangar dining hall.

Jacqueline McMillan, vice president for enrollment management, accepted the corporate team award on behalf of Wright State. She said the secret to the university’s fundraising success was to keep the focus on babies.

“It’s all about babies. If you use that as your clarion call, you have no difficulties,” she said.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the March of Dimes in 1938 to combat polio. It continues to raise money for research and programs to prevent birth defects and provide treatment of premature babies.