Houston, TX — HCA Houston Healthcare and March of Dimes (MOD) Houston are pleased to announce the appointment of Yasmene McDaniel as chair of the 2024 Houston March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement™. Proudly presented by HCA Houston Healthcare, a 2024 March for Babies Signature Sponsor, the annual experience provides an opportunity for families to come together to support one another throughout their parenthood journey while raising critical funds to help March of Dimes provide research, programs, education, and advocacy so moms and babies get the best possible start. March for Babies is the organization’s largest fundraiser and the nation’s oldest charitable walk.
“Yasmene is a longtime supporter of March for Babies and will focus her efforts to raise awareness and critical funds for March of Dimes,” said Jen Torres, March of Dimes senior executive director. “We are thrilled that she has accepted this opportunity to lead our local movement to advance health equity and ensure that every mom and baby has access to quality care.”
McDaniel is the CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, located in Pasadena, which is well known for its obstetrics and midwifery services. She is asking local businesses and community members to join her and HCA Houston Healthcare in supporting March for Babies. “The number of babies born preterm here in Texas and nationwide is staggering,” said McDaniel. “By joining this movement, individuals and groups can take action to help ensure March of Dimes can continue the vital research, programs and advocacy that allow moms and babies to get the best possible start.”
Each day in the United States, one woman dies every 12 hours from pregnancy-related causes, and in Harris County 1 in 8 babies is born too soon. “Although we see thousands of healthy babies born each year in the greater Houston area, we also see thousands of babies who need life-saving treatments in our neonatal ICUs. The work of the March of Dimes is unparalleled in what they do for moms and babies, and I’m so proud to be a part of this important work that affects so many lives,” McDaniel added.
More than just a walk, March for Babies will lift up communities for health equity, open the door for every mom to have access to care and protect the health of families through advocacy. March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement™ calls on people across the country to unite and take steps—big or small—to fundraise and make a huge difference for the health of all families.
Join our 2024 March for Babies Chair, Yasmene McDaniel, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, at the kickoff March for Babies Pep Up Rally on Tuesday, February 20th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Hotel, 909 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002. To learn more or to RSVP, please email Veronica Jefferson at vjefferson@marchofdimes.org.
Houston March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement™ will be held at 8 a.m., Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the University of Houston TDECU Football Stadium. Visit marchforbabies.org for more information, to donate and start or join a team.