Essex County Families and Companies Join March for Babies

Over 1000 residents joined together in Essex County at the 2015 March for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes. Brookdale Park, Bloomfield was packed with strollers, families and corporate teams helping to achieve the New Jersey goal of $3.1 million to help babies be born healthy.

Special guests at the day’s events included walk chair University Hospital President and CEO James R. Gonzalez and co-chair University Hospital Physician Onajovwe Fofah. Kimberly Wallace from FiOS1 News emceed the walk.

“University Hospital is a proud supporter of the March of Dimes and the important work that they do to provide care, treatment, education and overall support for babies who are born prematurely. As the chair of this year’s Essex County March for Babies walk, and as a father and grandfather, I was pleased to lead an effort that benefits our community in many ways” said Gonzalez.

Kevin Bryce, of Team Everything for Ethan, spoke and then cut the ribbon to start the walk. Bryce, a Clifton resident, is a member of the March of Dimes Lifetime Circle of Champions and has raised over $80,000 since starting his team for his son Ethan, who passed away in 2008.

Money raised by the event funds research, education and local community grants for programs such as Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait and NICU Family Support.

“Thank you to all of our state-wide sponsors, walkers and volunteers who made the March for Babies event a success and who continue to support the efforts of the March of Dimes and its very important mission,” said James Young, State Director, March of Dimes, New Jersey chapter.

It is not too late to donate to March for Babies and help New Jersey reach its goal of $3.1 million. Visit marchforbabies.org for more information.

The 2015 March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, and top sponsors Famous Footwear, Macy’s, Cigna, United Airlines and Mission Pharmacal. The New Jersey state sponsors are PSEG, UnitedHealthcare, Virtua, Comcast NBCUniversal and New Jersey Monthly, and the local sponsors are Barnabas Health, Ernst & Young Global Limited, KPMG, New Jersey Family, Santander, The Alternative Press, University Hospital, and Windmill Health Products.

Pictured: Kevin Bryce, with wife Jennifer Tate Bryce, addressed the walkers as Kim Wallace from FiOS 1 News and Dr. Onajovwe Fofah and James R. Gonzalez from University Hospital looked on.