New York, NY

My parents, Michael and I got to go the New York City and see The Little Mermaid on Broadway! It was so much fun! I love The Little Mermaid and had wanted to see the show for so long. Ursula was a little scary so I sat on my dad’s lap. Ariel was so pretty. I love her hair. After the show, I got an Ariel sweatshirt and Little Mermaid book.

The next day we got up really early to go on Fox & Friends with Gretchen Carlson. The U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps were outside the studio performing so we stopped to listen and take some pictures. It was fun being on Fox & Friends. It was our first national t.v. interview. Gretchen was really nice and does so much to support the March of Dimes.

After the interview we went to Toys R Us. It’s huge! There is a carousel inside. It was too high so we didn’t go on. My mom bought Michael and me a present.

Cigna and Wachovia

This week my mom and I went to Philadelphia. First we went to Wachovia to say thank you for everything they are doing to help save babies. We visited a lot of different departments. The lunch room floor had yellow and blue squares that I jumped on while my mom was telling our story. Then we attended the Cigna March for Babies Leaders Luncheon at the Ritz Carelton. I saw my friend Melanie Izzo of Cigna again, and Jane Massey from the March of Dimes, and met Ed Hanway, Cigna’s CEO and Chairman. Cigna has been a national sponsor of the March of Dimes for a long time. I also saw Tracy Davidson from NBC 10 again. She interviewed me for her blog.

Play Ball!

Last week my family and I drove from Allentown, PA to Cincinnati, OH. It took 9 hours. The first thing we did in Cincinnati was go to a cookout at GE Aviation. Their walk team raises nearly $200,000. We got to meet Herana-Daze Jones, safety for the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed my program! Chris taught was about the history of jet engines. They are so big. We couldn’t take any pictures because they are top secret.

We also went to a carnival at Citi. I signed autographs with Mr. Jones. My brother Michael played in a lot of games and won really neat prizes. It was a lot of fun. We also went to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to meet with the NICU transport team, and the CEO, James Anderson. I sat in the ambulence they use to transport really small and sick babies just like I was.

On Thursday, we went to a March of Dimes Board meeting. I got a really big group hug. Then we went to a Cincinnati Reds game. I got to throw out the first pitch and Michael got to catch it. I was a little nervous so we practiced a lot. When we went out onto the field the announcer said our names and our pictures were up on the jumbotron. They let me stand closer to home plate because I’m only five and can’t reach from the mound. Michael caught the ball. It was great!! We had fun watching the game and visiting the Hall of Fame. The best part was that the Reds won! Then we went to the Newport Aquarium and were interviewed on WCPO-TV.

Watch the video of me throwing out the first pitch!

On Friday,we visited FedEx Kinkos and I made my own book. Then we went to the Bear Bash and the Vice Mayor proclaimed it “Healthy Babies Day”. Charmin sponsored the event so there as a huge bear there and a really big toilet. 1,000 bears were donated to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital NICU. After the program we went to Graeter’s for ice cream and to say hi to supporters from Duke Energy.

We had a really fun time in Cincinnati!

Cigna Healthcare

Last week we visited Cigna Healthcare in Bloomfield, CT.  My parents drove and I got to bring my pony Smores. We went to Cigna for their Baby Lunch. Cigna employees were invited to bring their children or grandchildren for lunch and the march kickoff. There were arts and crafts for the kids. I made some friends and we played with a new gift that I got from Cigna.

Virginia Beach, VA

I got to go on the beach and play in the sand with my mom and Alison.  We stayed at the same hotel as the University of North Carolina’s women’s basketball team. I had my picture taken with the cheerleaders. I really liked Virginia Beach because there are a lot of mermaids around the city, and I love mermaids. My mom and I were inteviewed by Jimmy Ray Dun on the radio station 97.3 Eagle. It’s a country station. Jimmy is a huge supporter of March for Babies and has done a 100 mile walk for the last 17 years to raise money.

We went to a barbeque at the Liberty Tax headquarters. We all got to wear Liberty Tax crowns. I met the CEO, John Hewitt. He’s really nice and wants 10,000 Liberty Tax walkers to dress like Lady Liberty for March for Babies.  We also went to a Liberty Tax franchise. I got to play with a big dog. We met so many nice people from Liberty Tax who are supporting the March of Dimes.

We also went to Priority Auto Group.  I met three of their employees who are always among the top ten walkers in Virginia. We had our picture taken in front of a really beautiful car.

Delaware

On Thursday, March 20^th, we were in Delaware.  We attended the General Motors plant kickoff and went on a tour.  It was so cool to be in the plant and see how cars are made.  A really smart robot wrote my name on a poster. It even drew a smiley face.  My brother and I got to sit in a beautiful yellow convertible. I wanted to drive it home.  We also got to ride drive in a car right off the conveyor belt.  It was just made. My brother got to see the body shop.  A lot of sparks were flying.

We also went to the Christiana Hospital to tour the NICU and to say thank you to the wonderful NICU nurses and doctors.

At the end of the day we went to an elementary school’s kickoff. We watched an awesome laser light show.  A lot of the kids spray painted their hair purple for the March of Dimes so my dad, brother and I did too. It was so much fun!

Hartford, CT

 On Wednesday, March 19^th we were in Hartford, CT. First we went to Stanley Tools for their kickoff.  I got a tape measure with my name engraved in it.  I measured my dad’s head.  Then we went to the state capitol building to meet with the Lt. Governor Michael Fidele and senators.  We went to raise awareness and support for the newborn screening bill.  The March of Dimes and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation are advocating that screening for Cystic Fibrosis be mandated in Connecticut to meet standards that al babies be screened for 29 core tests at birth. Currently, CT tests for 28. The Lt. Governor was so nice and gave my brother and me a book called N is for Nutmeg. At the press conference, I received a beautiful proclamation from Senator David Cappiello.

Next we wend to Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center for lunch with March for Babies team captains. Dr. Hema deSilva a 20 plus year volunteer and MOD Board Member showed us around the NICU.

After that, we went to Bob’s Discount Furniture in Manchester. I helped tape a March for Babies PSA in English and in Spanish. Gracias!!!

Hasbro

 On Tuesday, March 18^th we went to the Hasbro plant in East Longmeadow, MA for a March for Babies kickoff and a tour.  Hasbro shut down one of the lines for the kickoff.  When we got there, a crowd was standing around the stage and we had to weave our way up to the stage.  It was really exciting and fun saying hi to everyone. The tour was so cool! Our guide Jeff Lombard, Senior VP of Operations knew so much.  I held a checkers piece right off the conveyor belt and it was still warm. I also got to see how puzzles are made.

Providence, RI

On Sunday, my family drove to Providence, RI. It was a long trip. On Monday, we went to Gracie’s restaurant for breakfast, to honor the Rhode Island chapter’s Citizen of the Year. This year it’s Tom Ryan, Chairman, President & CEO of CVS Caremark. Then we went to Kmart and I got to go shopping.  After that, we went to Hasbro. We had lunch with their President and CEO, Al Verrecchia and his wife Gerrie.  They were so nice.  They gave me a silver 25th anniversary My Little Pony.  It’s beautiful.  My brother Michael and I participated in fun St. Patrick’s Day activities that raised money for the March of Dimes. We also met Mr. Potato Head!

In the evening we went to the Providence Children’s Museum for a NICU family reunion.  I had fun playing with new friends.

On Tuesday, we visited the Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Women & Infant’s Hospital. We met a lot of loving doctors and nurses who are taking care of moms and babies. We also went to Summer Infant, where they make baby gear, and Bank of America.

We had a fun and busy time in Rhode Island!

Detroit, MI

Last week I went to Detroit, Michigan. Our flight there was cancelled so we almost didn’t get there on time, but Continental Airlines squeezed us on the last flight out and we made. Thank you Continental! In Detroit, we stayed at the Detroit Athletic Club, a really pretty and old building. We spoke at the Golden Mile Kickoff and met a lot of nice people.

We visited a huge Super Kmart. They had a really pretty cake for me. At Kmart, I checked customers out at the register, and wore a red vest and had a nametag with my name on it. I asked customers if they would like to make a donation to the March of Dimes. I got some donations!

We also attended a Family Teams kickoff at Pump It Up, an inflatibles company. There were over 50 kids there. I played with my new friend Shey, and the local ambassadors. It was so much fun!

Our last day in Michigan, we visited the Community Alliance Credit Union in Dearborn. This is the first time they are participating in March for Babies. Everyone is really excited to get involved.