New TV Series on Discovery Health NICU Highlights Struggles of Premature Babies & Families

Farmers Insurance to raise $2 million for March of Dimes in one day

LOS ANGELES, July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Premature babies have a new hero in Farmers Insurance.  The company has partnered with Discovery Health and the March of Dimes on NICU, a world premiere television series that follows the experiences of babies fighting for their lives in a newborn intensive care unit.  Farmers also plans its fifth annual Be a Hero for Babies Day(SM), on July 22, 2010, when it challenges agents and employees to raise more than $2 million in a single day to support research and educational programs, as well as provide information and comfort to families with a baby in the NICU.  

NICU premieres Thursday, July 15, at 10 PM (ET/PT) on Discovery Health.  The series follows real families as they experience the roller coaster of emotions that come with having a baby born too soon or with other complications.   During the broadcast, viewers can use their mobile devices to text the word "hero" to 20222 to donate $5 to the March of Dimes.  

"My wife, Allison, and I know firsthand how hard it is to have a baby in the NICU," says Nate Pearce of Birmingham, Ala.  "I am a Farmers Insurance employee whose son Palmer spent 77 days in the NICU and weighed only 1 pound, 12 ounces at birth. Today, my son is home, and I'm proud of my company's support for the March of Dimes and NICU on Discovery Health."

The "Be a Hero for Babies Day" fundraiser will begin early in the morning on July 22.  Farmers Insurance employees, agents and district managers are holding a variety of fundraising events in local communities across the country to support March of Dimes research and programs.   Anyone can also make a donation to the March of Dimes online at marchofdimes.com/farmers.

"Every year, I am amazed at the commitment our Farmers employees, agents and district managers give to Be a Hero for Babies Day to help the March of Dimes improve the health of babies,'' said Robert Woudstra, CEO of Farmers Insurance and member of the March of Dimes national Board of Trustees. "It is our goal to make a difference in our communities, especially for its smallest citizens."

The March of Dimes notes that premature birth has reached a crisis stage in America. One in 8 babies is born prematurely, and it is the leading cause of newborn death.  Babies who survive an early birth can face lifelong disabilities such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss and other chronic conditions, including asthma.

"Farmers Insurance has an outstanding record of volunteer service, contributing time, energy, talent and financial resources to helping babies. We thank them for being true 'Heroes for Babies' and providing urgently needed funds to support the vital work of the March of Dimes," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.

About Discovery Health:

Discovery Health Media includes the Discovery Health and FitTV television networks and online assets including www.discoveryhealth.com, as well as its Continuing Medical Education (CME) business and Discovery's first stand-alone VOD service, Discovery Health On-Call. Discovery Health Media is part of Discovery Communications, the world's number one nonfiction media company, reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

Web: discoveryhealth.com - Twitter: @Disc_Health - Facebook: facebook.com/discoveryhealth

About Farmers Insurance

As the nation's third-largest personal property and casualty insurance group, Farmers is committed to improving the communities where their customers, agents and employees live and work. Farmers' commitment to the March of Dimes spans more than two decades and includes more than $31 million dedicated to research and education programs for infant health.

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.

SOURCE March of Dimes