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Gourmet gala helps March of Dimes
YOUNGSTOWN
Some 300 Mahoning Valley residents savored gourmet foods at a local landmark while raising money to support the cause of infant well-being.
Monday’s March of Dimes fundraising event was the 22nd annual Evening of Culinary Excellence: Signature Chefs’ Auction in Stambaugh Auditorium’s Jeanne D. Tyler Grand Ballroom.
The March of Dimes’ mission is to improve babies’ health by preventing premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality.
“The March of Dimes uses funds that they raise locally to help support research and also to help support families, so any family that has a premature birth, a low birth-weight infant, or a baby born with any kind of congenital anomaly is supported by the March of Dimes,” said Patricia Sweeney, Mahoning County health commissioner, who attended the gala.
“They’re very supportive of the MY Baby’s 1st Coalition,” which is a local infant-mortality prevention coalition, she said of the March of Dimes.
“Prematurity is the No. 1 killer of babies,” said Vanetta Perry, senior community director for the March of Dimes Northeast Ohio Division in Cleveland.
The March of Dimes emphasizes the importance of proper maternal health care and nutrition and abstinence from
alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy, she said.
“We’re trying to start educating our young women earlier,” including the high-school level, she added.
The event, which featured 15 participating local restaurants, is the primary Mahoning Valley March of Dimes fundraiser.
Nick Mileto, the Springfield Grille’s corporate executive chef, was honorary chef for the gala, which had a fund raising goal of $55,000. Last year’s gathering raised about $52,000. The per-person fee this year was $100 for general admission and $150 for VIP admission.
Among the items auctioned were courtside seats at a Cavaliers home game with an overnight stay in Cleveland, a Springfield Grille-catered dinner at the home of Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel, an opportunity to watch a home YSU football game from Tressel’s box, and Gasser pub chairs.
This year’s honorary chairmen were Jeff Ryznar and his wife, Dr. Meredythe McNally-Ryznar of Boardman.
The March of Dimes assisted the couple in coping with the difficulties associated with the premature birth of their daughter, Maeryn, who is now a thriving 4-year-old.
Ryznar owns 898 Marketing LLC, a Canfield-based marketing firm; and his wife is a gastroenterologist at Salem Regional Medical Center.
“The purpose is to raise awareness for the March of Dimes and what they do, and, ultimately, to give every baby a healthy start at life,” Ryznar said. “The funds raised here will go to research and development to prevent premature birth, and, most importantly, help babies live to see past their first birthday, which is the ultimate goal.”
The event followed release of statistics showing Mahoning County’s black infant-mortality rate worsened to 17.7 per thousand live births in 2015, compared with 10.2 in 2014, with the rates for white babies having been 5.2 in 2015 and 6.4 in 2014, according to the Youngstown Office on Minority Health.
The infant-mortality rate is the number of babies who die in the first year of life per 1,000 live births.
“We want to have a bright future in the Mahoning Valley, so we want to see every baby born in the Mahoning Valley have a great chance at a great start at life,” Dr. McNally-Ryznar said.
The March of Dimes Cleveland office can be reached at 216-643-3330.