NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 2, 2006 – Although she's not pregnant, Grammy nominated RCA recording artist and Tony Award winner Heather Headley has joined forces with the March of Dimes to educate women – especially black women -- about the steps they can take to reduce their chances of having a baby born prematurely.
“I'm not pregnant, but I want my nine months someday,'' Headley says in a new March of Dimes national education and public service advertising (PSA) campaign launched at a news conference held at Harlem Hospital today. The March of Dimes campaign seeks to raise awareness of the growing crisis of premature birth, and urges women to take action before pregnancy by talking to their health care providers to assess their risk for having a premature baby.
Prematurity (birth before 37 weeks gestation) is the nation's leading cause of death in the first month of life and many babies who survive have serious health problems such as cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Premature birth affects 1 of every 8 babies, including 1 in 6 black babies in the U.S.
“This campaign is essential because prematurity has reached the crisis point in America, and we're concerned about the higher toll of prematurity in the black community,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “The racial disparity in preterm rates cannot be explained by socioeconomic factors alone. Even well-educated African-American women face a higher risk of having a premature baby than women of other races/ethnicities. We need more awareness of the problem, and more research to help us find the answers. We're delighted to have Heather's dedication to this effort."
“I Want My 9 Months” consists of 60-second, 30-second and 10-second television and radio spots, print PSAs, and an educational flyer. Heather's single Am I Worth It from her recently released album In My Mind is featured in the campaign. These new materials, as well as our online press kit are available at marchofdimes.com/aboutus/15796_22045.asp
“At Harlem Hospital, we see first-hand the increase in babies born prematurely and the long-term consequences that may develop as a result,” said Dr. Edgar O. Mandeville, chief of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Harlem Hospital. “We're proud to partner with the March of Dimes in launching this campaign and raising awareness of this growing problem in our community, as well as others.”
The campaign advises women of 9 important questions to ask their health care providers to help get their full 9 months of pregnancy. These are, what do I need to know about:
1. Diabetes, high blood pressure, infections or other health problems?
2. Medicines, home remedies or douching?
3. Taking a multivitamin pill with folic acid in it each day?
4. Getting to a healthy weight before pregnancy?
5. Smoking, drinking alcohol and illegal drugs?
6. Unsafe chemicals or other things I should stay away from at home or at work?
7. Taking care of myself and lowering my stress?
8. How long to wait between pregnancies?
9. My family history, including premature birth?
Headley's Success
For sublime vocalist Heather Headley, her second studio album, In My Mind, the follow-up to her Grammy nominated debut, This Is Who I Am, is a superb mix of soul, dancehall, exquisite balladry and fire breathing gospel. Born in Trinidad, she learned to play the piano at the age of 4. At 15, Heather moved with her family to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where her father accepted a pastorship. At Northwestern University, she majored in musical theater and communications. In 1997, Disney recruited her for the role of Nala in the history-making debut of the Tony Award winning musical, The Lion King. She then played the marquee role in the Elton John/Tim Rice show Aida. A 2000 Tony Award for her star-making performance affirmed her power-vocalist pedigree, and attracted the attention of RCA Records.
This Is Who I Am was released in 2002, achieving gold status, and earning Heather two Soul Train Awards, for Best R&B Soul Album of The Year and Best Solo R&B/Soul New Artist Award. She also received dual nods from the BET Awards and NAACP Awards, as well as earning two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best R&B Vocalist.
“I Want My 9 Months” is the latest educational effort in the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, which began in 2003 and seeks to help the nation reach the goal set by the U.S. Public Health Service of reducing the rate of premature birth to 7.6 percent by 2010. November is Prematurity Awareness Month.
The campaign was created by the marketing communications consultancy, Target Smarts, Inc. under the creative direction of Angela Walker Campbell and John Church, with producer, Dana Offenbach and photographer, Keith Major.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.
Contact Information
For TV/Radio requests, including copies of broadcast PSAs:
Todd P. Dezen
(914) 997-4608
TDezen@marchofdimes.com
For newspaper requests:
Elizabeth Lynch
(914) 997-4286
ELynch@marchofdimes.com
For magazine and online requests, including copies of print PSAs:
Robert Storace
(914) 997-4622
RStorace@marchofdimes.com
Related Links
2007 National Ambassador Press Release
Heather Headley Bio
HeatherHeadley.com
March of Dimes Backgrounder
Prematurity Fact Sheet
Prematurity Awareness Day page
PREEMIE Act
Are You At Risk?
Purchase a Pink & Blue Ribbon
Multimedia
2007 National Ambassador Card
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Heather Headley Television PSA "Worth It"
View Heather Headley Television PSA "Worth It" - :10s
View Heather Headley Television PSA "Worth It" - :30s
View Heather Healdey Television PSA "Worth It" - :60s
Heather Headley Radio PSA "Worth It" 
Listen to Heather Headley Radio PSA "Worth It" - :30s
Listen to Heather Headley Radio PSA "Worth It" - :60s
Heather Headley Print PSA -
"I'm Not Pregnant... but I Want My 9 Months... Someday"
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Heather Headley Print PSA -
"Saving Our Babies... There's Nothing More Worth It"
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Pictures from the Press Conference
NEW YORK, NOV. 2, 2006 -- Heather Headley, right, RCA recording artist and Tony Award winner, is joined by March of Dimes president Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, left, and former NYC mayor David N. Dinkins, center, at a news conference held at Harlem Hospital to introduce a new education and PSA campaign starring Ms. Headley. The new campaign seeks to help women -- especially Black women -- reduce their chances of having a premature baby. Premature birth has increased by 30 percent in the U.S. since 1983 and Black women are at greater risk to deliver a baby too soon. November is national Prematurity Awareness Month.
NEW YORK, NOV. 2, 2006 -- Heather Headley, RCA recording artist and Tony Award winner, poses next to an enlargement of her new March of Dimes PSA campaign to help women -- especially Black women -- reduce their chances of having a baby born prematurely. Premature birth affects 1 of every 8 babies, including 1 in 6 Black infants in the U.S.
NEW YORK, NOV. 2, 2006 -- Heather Headley, RCA recording artist and Tony Award winner, exchanges autographs with 7-year-old Zeek Taylor, the 2007 March of Dimes National Ambassador, at a news conference held at Harlem Hospital. Zeek, born 15 weeks early, helped Ms. Headley introduce her new starring role in an education and PSA campaign to help women -- especially Black women -- reduce their chances of having a premature baby. Premature birth has increased by 30 percent in the U.S. since 1983, and Black women are at greater risk to deliver a baby too soon. Zeek and his parents will travel the country next year to share their story and raise awareness of the crisis of premature birth. November is national Prematurity Awareness Month.
Video from the Press Conference
(coming soon)
