The month of November contains multiple events, seasons and holidays that are all represented by colors—but none by the color purple.
Among all colors November is known for, perhaps the most important one is purple, which represents Prematurity Awareness.
The national campaign used to raise awareness concerning the alarming rate of premature births in America, but the organization that spearheads the campaign is now the March of Dimes.
This year will mark the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes.
Prematurity Awareness Month traditionally kicks off Nov. 1 with the release of the March of Dimes’ yearly Premature Birth Report Card.
The report card is a way the organization compares each state against the March of Dimes’ 2020 national goal. That goal is to have each state’s premature birth rate at, or below, 9.6 percent by the year 2020.
Utah received a “C” grade for its 11.3 percent premature birth rate in 2012.
The Dixie State College chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is doing its part to raise awareness.
Bryan Poulsen, a senior CIT major from Hurricane and the National BLA western region vice president, said, “We are hoping to spread the awareness so the students here on campus know what the March of Dimes is and how they can help people who are having premature children.”
Although the BLA is primarily focusing this year to raise prematurity awareness, it will also be hosting the Mini Walk to raise money for the March of Dimes.
“PBL is a service-oriented organization; we are all about serving others and our community,” said Ashley Christensen, a Southern Utah University student and the Utah state BLA vice president. “We really want to encourage students to get out and serve their community because their service could really have a big impact on their community.”
Poulsen said BLA is the No. 1 national partner with the March of Dimes and has raised more than $250,000 to help further its cause.
The first annual March of Dimes Mini Walk will begin Nov. 15 at noon on the Diagonal.
All participants are encouraged to wear purple and bring a few bucks to donate to the March of Dimes. The Mini Walk will commence at the Diagonal and go all around the campus.
Written by Josh Wallis
