Mission Pharmacal Company Continues Its Support of March for Babies

SAN ANTONIO, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-five years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the March of Dimes to "lead, direct and unify" the fight against polio.  What President Roosevelt, a polio survivor himself, likely could not have envisioned was that just three-quarters of a century later, polio would be eliminated from the United States.  Yet the March of Dimes would continue, shifting from an organization focused on polio vaccine research to becoming a leading nonprofit organization serving mom and baby health.  Mission Pharmacal Company shares the March of Dimes passion for mother/child wellness.  The company offers several products developed for expectant mothers and their babies and is proud of its affiliation with March of Dimes.

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One key element of Mission's support is its role – now in its fourth year – as a national sponsor of March for Babies, the March of Dimes premier fundraising event.  And there is more than just a financial arrangement between Mission and March of Dimes.  Mission and its team of employees work throughout the country all year round on behalf of March for Babies.  Employees volunteer to staff tables at these events, providing information on mother and baby wellness. They also help raise awareness of and funds for the March of Dimes in the more than 15,000 OB/GYN offices called on throughout the year.  Since the inception of the partnership, Mission has raised nearly $850,000 for March for Babies.

"No other organization has played a bigger role in the health of America's babies and families than the March of Dimes.  More than 4 million babies were born in the United States last year, and the March of Dimes helped each and every one through 75 years of research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs," notes Natalie Sirjuesingh, Mission Pharmacal vice president of marketing.  "Mission shares the March of Dimes passion for families and our March for Babies fundraising and awareness efforts are an extension of our company's corporate beliefs."

As a clear demonstration of the partnership that has been formed between March of Dimes and Mission Pharmacal, both groups were present on February 28 at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Closing Bell® to kick off March for Babies 2013.  This year's March for Babies event will find participants walking together for stronger, healthier babies in 750 communities nationwide with a fundraising goal of $109 million.  Mission Pharmacal is again dedicated to their own March for Babies fund-raising efforts, and will have walkers in many events around the country, and Mission teams will staff information booths at walks in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, TX; Atlanta, GA.; Durham, N.C.; New York, N.Y.; Newtown, Pa.; and Davie, FL.  At these sites, Mission will provide information about their products that promote infant health, including the CitraNatal^® line of prenatal vitamins and Dr. Smith's^® Diaper Rash Ointment.

"March of Dimes is pleased and proud to have Mission Pharmacal renew and expand its commitment to help give all babies a healthy start in life," says Chad Royal-Pascoe, vice president of national partnerships and cause marketing for the March of Dimes. "Mission Pharmacal recognizes the need to support community-based programs and research to fight premature birth, infant mortality, and birth defects.  With Mission Pharmacal's assistance, we can also provide comfort and support to the families of babies in newborn intensive care."

March for Babies is the nation's oldest and largest charitable walking event.  Since 1970, March for Babies has raised more than $2 billion for life-saving research to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, infant mortality, and premature birth.

To join a team, make a donation or learn more about March for Babies, please visit www.marchforbabies.org or www.missionpharmacal.com/products/pediatrics.

About Mission Pharmacal Company
Mission Pharmacal is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in San Antonio, Texas.  For more than 65 years, the company has been committed to meeting the unique healthcare needs of women throughout all stages of life, pediatric patients, and those persons dealing with urologic and dermatologic conditions.  The company has a proven track record of identifying unmet healthcare needs and developing both innovative prescription and over-the-counter products to meet these needs.  Using only the purest ingredients and FDA-approved methods of manufacturing, Mission Pharmacal provides physicians and consumers with the highest quality pharmaceutical and dietary supplement products on the market today.  Mission Pharmacal is a proud national supporter of the March of Dimes Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.  For more information about the company, visit www.missionpharmacal.com.

About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies^®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. 

For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE Mission Pharmacal Company