TRC sponsors March for Babies

Jessica Holmes and her daughter, Alexa

Employees of The Resource Center and individuals with disabilities who receive services from the agency turned out Saturday, April 24, to take part in the 2010 March for Babies at Chautauqua Institution.

The Resource Center and TRC Foundation were the Presenting Sponsors of this year’s event, which is the major fund-raiser for the March of Dimes.  The March of Dimes strives to make sure that all babies are born healthy by giving women information they need to have health pregnancies.  When babies are born prematurely and have health problems, the March of Dimes supports them and their families.

The Resource Center and TRC Foundation have similar missions to that of the March of Dimes, which is why we are major sponsors of March for Babies each year.  We also want moms-to-be to have the information they need to improve the chances they will give birth to healthy babies.  When babies are born with developmental delays, TRC strives to get the children the early interventions and services they need so that they can have the best chance of living long and successful lives.

For the 2010 March, people gathered under cloudy and breezy skies at Chautauqua Institution.  Several TRC employees helped out by volunteering with registration and parking.  Jerry Reed, who receives supports from TRC, arrived with Bobby Morris, a staff member at the TRC home where Jerry lives.  Jerry and Bobby had only starting raising money the day before, but they raised enough that Jerry earned a March for Babies T-shirt.

Just before the March began, Tess Kerzner, TRC’s Children’s Services Coordinator who also is a certified yoga instructor, led all March participants in an exercise program to stretch out and warm up before the event began.  And then everyone headed off on a 2-mile tour of the beautiful grounds of Chautauqua.

“Congratulations” and “thanks” to everyone who supported March for Babies by participating in the event, sponsoring one of the walkers or helping with one of the fund-raisers conducted at TRC to generate funds for this cause.  Jessica Holmes, Special Projects Coordinator for TRC’s Rehabilitation and Employment Services Department, organized TRC’s team this year.  Suzette Smith, TRC’s Finance Manager, again played a major role with The March for Babies, serving with Jessica on the March for Babies Committee and putting her baking skills to use for the winner of her famous Cheesecake Raffle.

If you’d like to help raise money to help support TRC’s disability awareness and prevention efforts, please join us for the 14th Annual Laurel Run/Walk on Saturday, July 17 in Silver Creek.  Visit www.laurel-run.org for more information.