Fund The Mission
Imagine having a baby three months early that weighs less than two pounds. You don’t know if your child will survive. You don’t know why this happened.
But babies are born too soon every day in Ann Arbor and in communities across the nation. The March of Dimes is working to find out what causes babies to be born too soon and how premature birth can be prevented.
Over the past decade, the number of babies born preterm has increased at an alarming rate. Over half a million babies are born prematurely each year in the United States equating to one out of every eight babies. The causes of the premature births are still largely unknown. Prematurity is the number one killer of newborns in our country. Premature babies may develop problems such as blindness and learning disabilities that affect them for their entire lives. The direct health care costs to employers for premature babies during the first year of their lives average $41,610, compared to $2,830 for babies born healthy and full term. The emotional costs cannot be estimated.
Your generous donation will help the March of Dimes and our researchers continue to find answers to the mysteries of prematurity.
2010 Mission Family - The Beck Family
On October 30th, 2008, Stephen and Kelley Beck’s daughter, Lily, was born at only 24 weeks gestation, weighing a shocking 1lb. 6oz. and was considered a micro-preemie. For 119 days, the Beck family stayed by Lily’s side in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), looking at their beautiful daughter through the glass of an incubator.
- The Beck Family - Card
- Lily Elizabeth Beck - Blog
2010 Honoree - John W. Barfield
John W. Barfield is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Bartech Group, Inc., located in Livonia, Michigan. Bartech is among the nation’s largest independent human capital staffing and services firms in the United States, employing over 3,500 associates nationwide. The Company operates under five divisions: Bartech Enterprise Staffing, Bartech Workforce Management, Bartech Search Group, Bartech RPO Solutions, and Bartech Managed Services and specializes in engineering, information technology and professional staffing services; business process outsourcing solutions; and vendor management solutions.
The son of an Alabama sharecropper, Mr. Barfield dropped out of high school to enlist in the Army, serving two years in Germany and France. Upon his discharge, he worked as a custodian at the University of Michigan. Together with his wife Betty, he formed the first of many companies, Barfield Cleaning Company, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1969, he sold this company to International Telephone and Telegraph Company. He formed and sold several additional businesses, including Barfield Building Maintenance Company (sold to Unified Building Maintenance Services, Inc.) and Barfield Manufacturing Company (sold to Masco Tech Industries). In 1977, he incorporated John Barfield & Associates, which later became The Bartech Group.
Mr. Barfield is active in many business and community organizations. He is a member of the board of directors of Spaulding for Children and Parkridge Community Center, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, University of Michigan. His past leadership involvement includes organizations such as the United Negro College Fund, Salvation Army of Metropolitan Detroit, State of Michigan Community Services Commission and Rotary International. He supports many humanitarian causes from eradicating polio, to saving a youth community center locally, to building wells and providing safe drinking water in developing countries such as Haiti and Africa. His concern for the growing dilemma of the hungry and homeless population led him to form Share Products. Share brand products were sold throughout the Midwest and the profits were used to provide free meals and safe lodging for the homeless.
Mr. Barfield has received numerous honors and awards including the Tree of Life Award, the highest honor of the Jewish National Fund in America; The Laureate Award from Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan Business Hall of Fame; The George Romney Award, recognizing his achievement in volunteerism; Northwood University's Outstanding Business Leadership Award; Olivet College's Leadership in Individual and Social Responsibility Award. He received the Sapphire Award, a high honor for a leading volunteer who has made a demonstrable commitment to Michigan youth, created by the State of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; the A.G. Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award from Black Enterprise Magazine recognizing his achievements within the African American business community; and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion’s 2007 Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Mr. Barfield holds honorary doctorate degrees from Jackson State University, Grand Valley State University and Cleary College. He and his wife, Betty have six adult children and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Thank You
In giving to the March of Dimes, you help us continue our vital research, education, community services and advocacy programs.
Whether you are a long time March of Dimes supporter or are giving for the first time, thank you for your commitment to saving babies.
How to Stop Prematurity
- The auctioneer will call out funding levels
- Raise your bid card for the level you wish to donate (The amount will be reflected on your final receipt at check out)
- Your donation is 100% tax-deductible
If you are unable to attend, please contact Hilary Simmet at (734) 761-6331, to Fund the Mission with a tax-deductible donation.