March for Moms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2020

CONTACT
Nell Callahan
nell@frontwoodstrategies.com
(202) 262-0721

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Hundreds of Families, Advocates, Providers to Rally on the National Mall to Raise Awareness for Maternal Health on Sunday, May 3

Women face greater risk of maternal mortality in America than their mothers

The March for Moms will call on Congress, business leaders, health care providers to support families

Washington, DC–Today, March for Moms announced that hundreds of families, advocates, and health care providers will call on Congress, business leaders, and health care providers to improve care for mothers at a rally on the National Mall on Sunday, May 3 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The event will feature Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL-2), Every Mother Counts Founder Christy Turlington Burns, Advocate Charles Johnson, Empowered Birth Founder and Nurse Katie Vigos, radio host Kelly Collis, mothers, midwives, nurses, physicians, doulas and other advocates for maternal health, as well as musical performances and activities for children. The event is sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, Steward Health Care Network, the American Academy of Family Physicians, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Horizon Data Science, Every Mother Counts, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of OB-GYNs, DONA International, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Lamaze International.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 658 women died in the U.S. in 2018 as a result of childbirth. Further, the CDC found that 3 in 5 pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. Women of color are more than twice as likely as their peers to face maternal death. These sobering statistics place the U.S. last among high-income nations.

“For far too long, motherhood has taken a backseat in our health care system, and it has had devastating and deadly consequences. We are here to fight for every family so they can grow with dignity,” said Katie Shea Barrett, Executive Director of March for Moms. “Every aspect of our care system can do better, from Congress passing laws that improve the quality of care to insurers and businesses incentivizing the care that works best for mothers to health care providers adopting better models and culturally competent care. We can and must do better.”

Who: Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL-2)
Christy Turlington Burns, Founder, Every Mother Counts
Katie Vigos, Registered Nurse and founder, Empowered Birth Project
Kelly Collis, Founder, Host, Real Fun DC
Charles Johnson, Founder, 4Kira4Moms
Sara Rothstein, Director, 32BJ Health Fund
Erica McAfee, Bereavement Doula, Founder of Sisters in Loss
Cathy Collins-Fulea, Board President, American College of Nurse-Midwives
Shakira Henderson, Board member, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses
Marinah V. Farrell, Midwife, President, Changing Woman Initiative
Neel Shah, OB-GYN, Co-Founder and Vice President, March for Moms
Ginger Breedlove, Nurse-Midwife, Co-Founder and President, March for Moms
Katie Shea Barrett, Founding Executive Director, March for Moms

What: March for Moms rally for maternal health

When: Sunday, May 3, 2020.
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. ET
Program runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET

Where: National Mall
Madison Street NW between 7th Street and 9th Street NW
Washington, D.C.

RSVP: Members of the public planning to attend can find additional details here.

Media RSVP: Members of the media can RSVP to Nell Callahan at nell@frontwoodstrategies.com.

March for Moms is non-partisan, 501 ©(3) non-profit that aligns the diverse voices of families, health care providers, policymakers, and partners to advocate for mothers and families’ health, well-being and equal access to care. For more information, visit https://marchformoms.org/.

Follow us on instagram: @MarchForMoms | Twitter: @MarchForMoms | Facebook: @MarchForMoms | Youtube: MaternityCareMarch
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