The Southeast Pennsylvania Division March of Dimes will honor three outstanding women from Chester County at the annual Salute to Women of Achievement event on Wednesday, October 19^th at Aronimink Golf Club.

This year marks the 27th anniversary of this annual event that honors the women who have made Chester County a better place to live and work while raising important funds for the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies. In addition to dinner and awards ceremony, guests will be able to bid on many unique auction items and experiences.

Funds raised by the Salute to Women of Achievement support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.

Past honorees include Dr. Madeleine Wing Adler, Carol Aichele, Jayne E. Ashenfelter, Lydia Willits Bartholomew, Brooke Beahm, Betty Beyer, Patricia C. Brennan, Glenda K. Brion, Esther Brown, Kimberly Brumbaugh, Pamela Bryer, Amanda Cabot, Karen Cantrell-Borda, Tamara Cansler, Susan H. Casso, Diane Christianson, Jaqueline Clompus, Mayor Carolyn Comitta, Nancy Corson, Denise Day, Jane L.S. Davidson, Judy L. DiFilippo, Marybeth DiVincenzo, and Mary Lou Enoches.

The March of Dimes and the Salute to Chester County Women of Achievement Committee is calling for nominations for outstanding women who live and/or work in Chester County, in the following fields:

• Achievement Award for Excellence in the Field of Public Service
• Achievement Award for Excellence in the Field of Health
• Ellen Ann Roberts Award for Excellence in the Field of Business

All nominations are due March 25, 2016. To nominate, please fill out the form below and send to dheller@marchofdimes.org.

Leading the event is 2016 Chairperson Shari Kruzinski, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, WSFS Bank, along with the board of industry professionals. “The Chester County Women of Achievement event provides an opportunity to appreciate influential women in our community while supporting the critical work of the March of Dimes,” said Kruzinski. “It is so important to recognize women for the outstanding work they do in our community and to demonstrate to future generations the importance of hard work, perseverance, and paying forward your good fortune.”

Today, one in every ten U.S. infants is born preterm. Due to concerted efforts by the March of Dimes and our partners, this number has gone down for the past seven consecutive years, but it is still too high.

Preterm delivery can happen to any pregnant woman; in many cases, the cause of preterm birth is unknown. Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death, and those babies who survive are more likely to suffer from intellectual and physical disabilities. In addition to its human, emotional, and financial impact on families, preterm birth places a tremendous economic burden on the nation.

2016 Official March of Dimes Nomination Form