Newborn Foundation Hosts 2014 Awards Gala

Largest fundraiser of its kind will raise awareness and funds to combat newborn mortality and improve health outcomes for the youngest babies

 – – Babies and Badasses – an Awards Gala Benefiting the Newborn Foundation will be held at Aria in Minneapolis on Friday, October 10.  The evening is dedicated to combatting newborn mortality and directly impacting the survival and health of the youngest, most fragile babies.

Emmy Award-winning WCCO journalist, Jason DeRusha will serve as emcee for the evening’s festivities, which will feature special guests and dignitaries including members of congress, departments of health, the NIH, CDC, with special recognition from the United Nations and a former Surgeon General of the United States.

Proceeds from the event will go to the continued efforts of the Newborn Foundation and Coalition to leverage technologies in improving early detection of health conditions and access to care for newborns.  

As part of the United Nations’ Every Newborn Action Plan – the Newborn Foundation’s BORN Project was just highlighted among a handful of programs saving newborn lives at meetings during the UN General Assembly in New York City. 

Learn more about initiatives and technology http://www.newbornfoundation.org/initiatives

“This event marks a pivotal point in the foundation and coalition’s work to end preventable newborn deaths and improve health outcomes fo r babies in the U.S. and around the world,” said Annamarie Saarinen, Co-founder and CEO of the Newborn Foundation. “We’ve made remarkable progress and look forward to recognizing global public health leaders, clinicians, partner organizations and advocates who are on the front lines of reducing newborn mortality.” Thanks to the generosity of corporate underwriters, every dollar raised will go directly toward policy the programmatic efforts to improve newborn outcomes.  In addition, VIP ticket purchasers and sponsors allow families currently facing a newborn health struggle to attend the event at no cost. Corporate sponsors include Masimo, Drager, the NFL Alumni Association, Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota, Ainsley Shea, the Michael & Brittany Reger Family Foundation, University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Recombinetics, OZ Systems, Minnesota Monthly, Julian Design, Smile Network International, the Patient Safety Movement Foundation, American Heart Association, and Morrie’s Luxury Auto, Maserati, Bentley. Among the awards presented during the evening include the Hubert H Humphrey “Dawn of Life” Award presented by Hubert “Buck” Humphrey IV; Ted Thompson Visionary Award; R. Rodney Howell Award for Excellence in Newborn Health and the Eve Innovation Award. The event will also feature performances from some of the youngest survivors of neonatal conditions along with special guest performances by recording artist Karen Vieno Paurus, the acclaimed Minneapolis Youth Chorus and former NFL great Esera Tuaolo.

For more information visit http://www.newbornfoundation.org/babies-badasses.

List of guests and committee: http://www.newbornfoundation.org/babies-badasse