NACDS Foundation sponsors 35th annual March of Dimes Gourmet Gala

WASHINGTON — The March of Dimes on Tuesday held its 35th annual Gourmet Gala, which featured the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation as the event’s Title Sponsor.

Both NACDS Foundation president Kathleen Jaeger and NACDS president and CEO and NACDS Foundation chairman Steve Anderson attended the event, with Anderson delivering remarks on how the missions of the March of Dimes and the NACDS Foundation converge — particularly when it comes to efforts aimed at prevention of illness.

“As you know, the March of Dimes improves the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality,” Anderson said. “In our work, we also explore ways to improve patient care so that preventable illnesses can be avoided.

Anderson shared with attendees the foundation’s recent prevention efforts, which have included hepatitis C screenings, as well as research around the illness, which is one of roughly a dozen research projects the foundation has underway. He also highlighted the NACDS Foundation and the March of Dimes’ collaboration in 2016 to prevent Zika virus.

“There's an old-fashioned saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Anderson said. “New healthcare challenges are emerging, but that old saying is as true as it has ever been. Tonight, we are proud to join all of you in supporting the March of Dimes in its important work to protect mothers and their babies.”