saving babies

saving babies

funding research

volunteering for a better future

chain reaction

What is Chain Reaction?Begun nationally in 1988, and in Gainesville in 1989, the March of Dimes Chain Reaction Youth Leadership Council provides high school students with meaningful learning and leadership experiences while building the volunteer force that will help the March of Dimes accomplish its goals today and lead the foundation into the future. The name "Chain Reaction" was chosen to symbolize excitement, momentum and unity.

Through the program, high school students learn how to help every baby get a healthy start in life. Under the guidance of adult volunteer advisors, students lead and govern their own Chain Reaction Councils.

Chain Reaction has three objectives: To provide a leadership development opportunity for the students involved. To educate young people about healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices. To increase awareness and raise funds for the March of Dimes mission to prevent birth defects,

prematurity and infant mortality.Chain Reaction accomplishes these objectives by:

Educating Chain Reaction members about the March of Dimes mission to prevent birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality.

Preparing Chain Reaction members to speak to their peers about the connection between healthy habits during adolescence and healthy childbearing in the adult years, and about the risks of teenage pregnancy.

Presenting Chain Reaction members with opportunities to organize and lead events and conferences involving all programmatic aspects of the March of Dimes mission –health education, advocacy, community services, and research.

A Youth Leadership Council That Makes A Difference

• The Gainesville Chain Reaction Youth Leadership Council is comprised of sophomores, juniors and seniors from area high schools. It allows for a variety of groups and opinions to be expressed for the best interest of the council in events and fundraising. Members who serve a two-year term are nominated by high school personnel or other community leaders and become members through an application and interview process.

• The Gainesville Chain Reaction is often recognized as the best council in the nation, having received numerous national Mission Triangle, Fundraising, Program and Advocacy and Outstanding Member and Advisor awards over the past twenty years. Eleven members have been selected to serve as members of the National Youth Council (NYC), and three served as Chair of the NYC. The Gainesville council had more members serve on the NYC than any other council or March of Dimes chapter in the nation. Gainesville Chain Reaction members have attended all of the National Youth Conferences and many of the National Volunteer Leadership Conferences. Two Chain Reaction members have served as interns for the March of Dimes Office of Governmental Affairs in Washington, DC, and four members have been hired as Community Directors for other March of Dimes Chapters. Many Chain Reaction alums are currently active March of Dimes volunteers in their respective communities, serving on boards and committees and participating in a variety of fundraisers. They are lifelong volunteers as a result of their Chain Reaction experience.

Our Events Throughout The Year

Health Conference: an event planned for 350 at-risk 7th graders from 8 middle schools in Alachua County. Doctors and health professionals speaker to the youth about 3 topics : Healthy Lifestyles, Drugs and Anti Violence and a Just for Girls and Just for Boys sex talk. The conference has been a tremendous success for 20 years. The event empowers students to make good choices throughout their life.

Teen-2-Teen: a program for middle school students taught by Chain Reaction members. For two days in April, Chain Reaction mentors the youth and educates them on making healthy choices. A PowerPoint with topics ranging from how to handle stress to the numerous affects alcohol has on their life is presented in a 50 minute session. There are pictures and personal stories to share. Each class ends with questions and answers. This program has been fantastic for middle school students because they truly believe that Chain Reaction members can relate to challenges they are facing. This program is a national March of Dimes program that was developed, in large part, by Gainesville Chain Reaction members, working with local advisors, Linda Kallman and Lisa Gearen. The nationally produced Teen-2-Teen video features interviews with Gainesville Chain Reaction members, as well as a group of youth volunteers in NY. The Gainesville council's original health education program was the inspiration for this program that is now used in communities all across the nation.

“It was life changing!” -Stephani, LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL

“It made me mchange my mind” m

-Antoin, HOWARD BISHOP MIDDLE

Our Events Throughout The Year

Fundraising: : Chain Reaction members lead the March for Babies fundraising efforts in their schools, often forming a March of Dimes steering committee or club that involves representatives from all clubs, organizations and groups within the schools. While raising tens of thousands of dollars each year, this experience provides another opportunity to educate students about the mission of the March of Dimes and the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. Mission/ambassador families often help make the mission more personal by sharing their stories of birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Other fundraisers such as the Rattle Battle Wing Bowl, Club MOD, garage sales, etc, help to raise additional funds to support March for Babies goals.

New Member Orientation: This is a weekend retreat where incoming new (junior) members and second-year (senior) members spend time together getting to know one another and learning more about the March of Dimes as they prepare for the coming year of events. This is a leadership experience for senior members, an educational experience for junior members and a critical bonding experience for the entire council. Volunteer advisors and chaperones supervise the weekend, but it is a totally student planned and led experience that sets the tone for the remainder of the year.

“Thank you to everyone who was a constant force behind me reminding methat we are the voices for those who can not speak.” -Shelby, CHAIN REACTION MEMBER

“No matter where the journey of my life may take me, I know that my involvementwith the March of Dimes will inevitably continue.” -Ben, CHAIN REACTION MEMBER

Make It Happen

Now that you know more about Chain Reaction and what the council has done in the past, we hope you are proud of the efforts and accomplishments of our area's youth and will want to help us continue that momentum as we go forward. We have many new ideas and plans for the future. As we continue into another year, Chain Reaction will set our fundraising goal higher than ever. We will push our fundraisers beyond their boundaries. We will achieve a feat that none of us ever thought we could, and the best part is that all of the efforts, the culmination of everything that each student does, is for the sake of a better future for the babies.

Join us and MAKE IT HAPPEN! With the help of your generosity, together we can make history happen, right before our eyes...for the babies!

A New Beginning Starts With You

As a Chain Reaction alum or parent of an alum, as a business or civic leader, or as a concerned and caring citizen, we hope you will partner with us by

making a financial contribution that will support the efforts of the Gainesville Chain Reaction Youth Leadership Council. We are committed to continuing

the successful legacy that has been passed down from the outstanding leadership and efforts of twenty years of service of over 350 area high

school student leaders.

Join us by being a Champion for Babies, and we will help assure a healthier tomorrow for all of our nation's babies!

Chain Reaction Sponsorship Levels

Chain Reaction Champion funds an entire year of the Chain Reaction Youth Leadership Council. Including New

Member Orientation, Health Conference, Teen-2-Teen, Senior Retreat, bi-weekly meetings and graduation. Sponsor recognition includes: company logo on every program, t-shirt, flier and event ticket along with recognition on local radio stations, TV 20, The Gainesville Sun and the Alligator. Also, there will be space allotted for a booth set-up at Health Conference. Chain Reaction reaches approximately

20,000 students annually between elementary, middle and high schools across Alachua County.

$15,000

Diamond Donor Sponsor recognition includes your

corporate logo on all Health Conference, Teen-2-Teen and graduation materials. This includes invitations,

programs and press releases. Space will be allotted at Health Conference for a booth or banner.

$7,000 Platinum Donor

Sponsor recognition includes your corporate logo on all Health Conference and

graduation materials. This includes invitations, programs and press releases. Space will be allotted at

Health Conference for a banner.

$5,000 Gold Donor

Sponsor recognition includes

your corporate logo on all Health Conference and graduation materials.

$2,500

Chain Reaction Sponsorship Levels

Silver Donor Sponsor recognition includes a listing in

the Health Conference program and graduation as Friends of Chain Reaction.” Individual gifts at this level

will be recognized as members of thenational March of Dimes President’s Society.

$1,000 Bronze Donor

Sponsor recognition includes alisting in the Health Conference

program and graduation asFriends of Chain Reaction.”

$500 Member Donor

Will sponsor 1 Chain Reaction member through an entire year of participation on the

council. Sponsor recognition includes a listing in the Health Conference program and graduation as

Friends of Chain Reaction.”

$250

Community Donor level funds (four) at-risk youth

attending Health Conference.

$100 Double Donor level funds (2) at-risk youth

attending Health Conference.

$50 Individual Donor level funds (1) at-risk youth

attending Health Conference.

$25

Quotes from Chain Reaction Alumni

“March of Dimes Chain Reaction helped instill in me the confidence to find and use my voice to accomplish goals that I thought were unattainable. I learned that we are all capable of

so much more than we realize and that, above all, if we do what we can with what we have, it’s within our power to accomplish

anything.” =-Rob, CHAIN REACTION ALUM

“Only years after my Chain Reaction days have I truly understood the impact the March of Dimes and the Chain

Reaction program have had on my life. Through Chain Reaction, I learned the importance of volunteering and becoming an active member of my community. I had the opportunity to meet many amazing people and to develop lasting friendships. Finally, the

public speaking, planning, and other skills I learned through the program have been an asset to me as I begin my career.” =

-Shelli, CHAIN REACTION ALUM

“As we all know, the mission of the March of Dimes is a meaningful one, which I was introduced to early on in my life,

through the March of Dimes Chain Reaction. It became apparent to me right away that the March of Dimes is more than just a good cause and philanthropy; it's a mission for life! The March of Dimes Chain Reaction not only influenced me to be passionate about saving babies, but it developed me into a leader. The skills, training, and experiences I gained through

Chain Reaction, I have been able to apply in both my personal and professional life. ” =

-Christina, CHAIN REACTION ALUM

"Not only did Chain Reaction teach me important life and leadership skills, but Chain Reaction also introduced me to my wife!"=

-Stevie, CHAIN REACTION ALUM

I Am Committed To Chain Reaction! Champion - $15,000 Diamond - $7,000 Platinum - $5,000 Gold - $2,500

Silver - $1,000 Bronze - $500 Member - $250

Community - $100 Double - $50 Individual - $25 Other - $______

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Please Make Checks Payable to: March of Dimes, ATTN: Chain Reaction, 1831 NW 13th Street, Suite 3, Gainesville, FL 32609

chain reaction

call us(352) 378-9522

emailcsussman@marchofdimes.com

btrent@marchofdimes.com

make it happen!

brochure by

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$7,000$2,000

$500$500

$5,000Health ConferenceSpecial EventsGraduationSenior RetreatNew Member Orientation

Chain Reaction Expenses

Printing Courtesy of a gift fromJeff & Christy Montgomery,

Former Chain Reaction Parents