Local Businessman Leads March of Dimes Effort to Improve Health of Bergen County Babies

More than 11,000 of New Jersey babies will be born premature this year, and business leader Christopher Gomez is working with the March of Dimes to change this.

Christopher Gomez, AVP Regional Member Service Officer, Visions Federal Credit Union, knows how important the March of Dimes mission is to families in Bergen County. As a business leader and uncle, he has taken on the role of 2015 March for Babies Chair to raise awareness and important funding to help babies born prematurely or with birth defects. Gomez has made the commitment to raise $60,000 as part of the overall goal of $300,000 in Bergen County.

March for Babies, the March of Dimes largest fundraiser, helps fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at helping moms have healthy babies. Last year in Bergen County, more than $280,000 was raised. This year, March for Babies Chair Christopher Gomez will focus on recruiting new companies to participate and lead the community in making a difference for the health of moms and babies.

“As a business leader, this campaign gives me and my company, Visions Federal Credit Union, a unique opportunity to help the community that I love. And as an uncle, I can’t think of a more important cause than our babies,” said Gomez, who will be asking other local businesses for their support in the coming months. “Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death in this country. 1 in 9 of our babies here in New Jersey are born premature, and that’s just not acceptable. It takes leaders in our community working together to ensure more moms have healthy pregnancies. More than 20,000 companies are partnering in March for Babies to help reduce the premature birth rate and improve the health of babies.”

Bergen County residents can sign up today at www.marchforbabies.org and start a team with co-workers, family or friends. Last year, more than 1,200 people attended the event -- which will be held this year on April 26th in Darlington Park, Mahwah.

“We’re so excited to have Christopher Gomez on board to help us at a local level,” said James Young, State Director for the New Jersey March of Dimes Chapter. “His passion for the cause and commitment to helping our babies will be a huge driving factor in the success of our event. We are grateful for his commitment.”

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 and locally by PSEG, UnitedHealthcare, Virtua, Comcast NBCUniversal, New Jersey Family, New Jersey Monthly, The Alternative Press and Visions Federal Credit Union.