“Dancing for Our Stars” Fundraiser Benefiting the Health Care Needs of Women Throughout the Greater Long Beach Area

Last year, nearly 6,000 babies were born at the MemorialCare Center for Women at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Long Beach Memorial, the rate of births is expected to continue with 10 percent of those births deemed high-risk. The Center for Women sees more than 10,000 patients a year and with nearly 250,000 women in the greater Long Beach area, it is clear that there is a need for expanded maternity and overall women’s health services. As the needs of the community grow, the Center for Women is committed to continuing to provide the best environment for delivery of healthy babies. To meet this community need, the Center for Women embarked on a $14 million capital campaign project.

The project includes a new perinatal special care unit that has nine private patients rooms and one semi-private room all designed for high-risk pregnancies, a new welcome center and waiting area, a new fetal diagnostics room, an expanded postpartum unit, a renovated newborn nursery and capital equipment including ultrasound machines and a video laproscopy tower. The Center for Women project is nearing completion and aims to continue providing high-quality health care for mother and baby and to provide a safe and comfortable environment for its patients.

“I am thankful to the Memorial Medical Center Foundation and the hospital administration for making an investment into the future of the Center for Women,” says Martin W. Muth, M.D., chief of staff of the MemorialCare Center for Women. “I also am excited to be a part of the Dancing for Our Stars cast at the upcoming annual gala to raise funds to contribute to this great cause.”

To help support the Center for Women revival and the acquisition of advanced technology, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation is holding its 4th annual “Dancing for Our Stars” fundraising gala on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Westin Long Beach.

At the “Dancing for Our Stars” gala, six community members will be paired with professional dancers or their significant other to entertain the audience and compete in a dance competition all while supporting a good cause. This gala, unique in and of itself, raises funds not through live and silent auctions, but by collecting votes from the crowd. Last year this event netted $280,000 and event director, Michele Roeder, is hopeful to surpass that this year. All proceeds will benefit the MemorialCare Center for Women at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Long Beach Memorial.

Dancers include Supervisor Don Knabe and his wife Julie, Lisa Ramelow and Geoffrey Nighswonger, Martin W. Muth, M.D., chief of staff, MemorialCare Center for Women and wife Sandra, Jeanna Mingram and Anthony Addotta, Ryan Choura and former Miss Long Beach Ashley Prinzen and Susan Nicholson and Michael Fawver. The competition will be judged by Justin Rudd, Julie Jones and Rick Bryson. Equal weight will be given to the pre-event fundraising, event night fundraising and judges’ scores to crown the overall winner. Once the winner is announced, all attendees will be invited to the dance floor to strut their stuff.

About the MemorialCare Center for Women at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Long Beach Memorial: Rated as one of the safest places to have a baby by the State of California and Fit Pregnancy Magazine, the MemorialCare Center for Women at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Long Beach Memorial provides compassionate quality health care for expectant mothers. The Center offers a comprehensive program of research, diagnosis, treatment, educational resources, family classes and individual and family support programs all under one roof with spacious state-of-the-art private birthing suites and postpartum unit. Also, the Center offers a newly renovated Perinatal Special Care Unit with a leading high-risk perinatal program proving constant monitoring of mother and baby, while the baby grows as much as possible in the stable environment of the womb. A high-risk maternal transport program is available, around the clock, to ensure that mother and baby can be brought to the Center. 24/7 lactation support is available for mothers to ensure a smooth breastfeeding experience. Education classes, resources and family support programs are available for women that are in the early and late stages of pregnancy and after the baby has been born. Visit MillerChildrens.org/maternity like us on Facebook.com/MillerChildrensHospital and follow us at tweets@millerchildrens.

About the Memorial Medical Center Foundation: The Memorial Medical Center Foundation was founded in 1961 as the not-for-profit fundraising arm of Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. The Foundation’s purpose is to provide “that extra measure of care” for patients and families served at Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s. The Foundation enables individuals, corporations, and other foundations to support the hospitals with philanthropic gifts, grants and donations. The Foundation offers support for health care education, clinical research, medical equipment and expansion of patient care programs for patients and families. Visit lbmmcf.org for more information.