April 25, 2018

Celebration Pointe and March of Dimes Announce $420,000 Raised From 2018 Alachua March for Babies Walk Event

Approximately 4,000 People of All Ages Participated in the Walk

GAINESVILLE, Fla; April 23, 2018…Celebration Pointe, north-central Florida’s premier mixed-use development located prominently and conveniently along I-75 in Gainesville, and the Greater Gainesville Market of March of Dimes, today announced funds raised from the highly-successful April 14 March for Babies event at Celebration Pointe.

“The amount raised could reach as high as $500,000 with some associated fund-raising campaigns yet to conclude,” said Luana Huffman, Senior Development Manager, Alachua March for Babies. “Celebration Pointe is a terrific venue for the March for Babies.”

“It’s the first year this incredible event was held at Celebration Pointe and we are thrilled with the outcome,” said Sean McIntosh, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Celebration Pointe. “The community showed up and enthusiastically participated in a big way and everyone had a great time.”

Founded in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt, the March of Dimes conquered its initial goal of stamping out polio and since that time has played a vital role in understanding and preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Since 2003, the organization’s fight to save babies has been strongly characterized by its Prematurity Campaign. The rising incidence of premature birth has demanded action, and the March of Dimes has responded by initiating an intensive, multi-year campaign to raise awareness and find the causes of prematurity.

The nation’s first March of Dimes walk – Walk America – was held in 1970, with the Gainesville region holding its first walk one year later, according to previous Greater Gainesville Market March of Dimes Executive Director, and now volunteer, Lynda Knight. The March of Dimes’ Greater Gainesville Market has grown to cover a nine-county area with walks in Alachua, Marion, Putnam and Columbia Counties.

The 2018 March for Babies was sponsored nationally by Kmart; Famous Footwear; Macy’s; Cigna; and HCA. It is sponsored regionally by Publix Super Markets, Inc., and by local sponsors: Celebration Pointe; UF Health; CAMPUS USA Credit Union; Gator Domino’s; Almond Oil Company; North Florida Regional Medical Center; Sun Country Sports Center, D&C Foods, Info Tech, Kohl’s, North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care; Walmart,  Florida Credit Union, Gainesville Regional Airport; Davis Gainesville Automotive Group; Santa Fe College, AvMed, Bahama Breeze, Dell Salter Attorneys at Law, The Emory Group,  Fletcher & Johnson Insurance, JE Decker Construction, MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Company, and Oelrich Construction. Alachua March for Babies was also supported by media partners FOX 51; Frankel Media Group; CBS4 and 9, Gainesville Sun; KISS 105.3, WIND FM, KTK, and KCountry. There were also 30 vendors and local restaurants that joined the festival at Picnic Park who donated food and refreshments for all.

About Celebration Pointe

Located at the intersection of I-75 and Archer Road, Celebration Pointe is a 160-acre, one million-plus-square-foot mixed-use development. In addition to some 300,000 square feet of Class-A office space, Celebration Pointe will feature approximately 400,000 square feet of many first-to-market retailers and restaurants, as well as a mix of highly experiential and entertainment venues including Bass Pro Shops, which opened November 2016. Celebration Pointe also delivered in April 2018 the area’s first luxury seating, state-of-the-art Regal RPX theater complete with food and lounge, along with a boutique 141-room Hotel Indigo (Late Summer 2018). The project will also offer the area’s newest selection of luxury apartments and urban townhomes. For more information, please visit www.celebrationpointe.com.

About March of Dimes

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. If you have been affected by prematurity or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find comfort and support. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you are interested in joining the Fight for Healthy Moms and Strong Babies, please contact Senior Development Manager, Luana Huffman at lhuffman@marchofdimes.org or call 352-378-9522.

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