Farmers Insurance Pledges to Match All Donations Up to $250k For "Be a Hero for Babies Day" to Benefit Marc...( LOS ANGELES July 7 -- A matchin....),Health

LOS ANGELES, July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A matching gift of $250,000 by Farmers Insurance kicks off the upcoming "Be a Hero for Babies Day" to raise funds for March of Dimes programs of research and education to help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Make a donation to the March of Dimes online at marchofdimes.com/farmers and the gift will double in value thanks to a pledge by Farmers Insurance, whose agents and employees nationwide will hold their fourth annual "Be a Hero for Babies Day" event on July 22, 2009 to benefit the March of Dimes. Through activities such as carwashes, golf outings, pancake breakfasts, and pie-throwing contests, Farmers agents aim to raise $2 million for healthier babies.

"Be a Hero for Babies Day shows a commitment by Farmers employees, agents and district managers across the country to help the March of Dimes improve the health of babies," said Robert Woudstra, CEO of Farmers Insurance and member of March of Dimes national Board of Trustees. "It's our goal to make a difference in our communities, especially for its smallest citizens."

Premature birth is a serious and growing crisis in America, the March of Dimes says. One in 8 babies is born prematurely, and those who survive often face lifelong disabilities such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions including asthma.

"I challenge everyone to visit marchofdimes.com/farmers or their local Farmers agent to make a donation to help raise urgently needed funds for March of D
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