March of Dimes: Presidential History

You know about the March of Dimes, the nonprofit that works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. But did you know it was started by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt?

He was born Jan. 30, 1882, and in 1938 he started the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. A radio broadcaster urged citizens to show their support by sending their change in "a march of dimes to reach all the way to the White House." That led the foundation to change its name to the March of Dimes -- and FDR's face showed up on the dime in 1945.

Read more at http://blogs.usatoday.com/betterlife/2009/01/good-morning-to.html

http://www.marchofdimes.com/