March of Dimes

This poster urges citizens of the Carolinas to donate to The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (a.k.a. The March of Dimes).

The March of Dimes (originally known as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis) by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1938, when polio still a significant threat to children in the United States. The polio vaccine was the triumphant result of the creation and funds originally given to the foundation. In 1958, the main focus of the organization was redefined as research regarding the combatance of birth defects and infant mortality became the ultimate goal.

All of the records available from State's Mates indicate that the members were involved with March of Dimes fundraising drives from the early days of the organization until its demise in the 1970's. The first available annual report, from the 1957-1958 academic year, states that the organization collected a grand sum of $65.81 from the Vetville community, the married student housing facility at North Carolina State College.  Vetville was the primary site for State's Mates solicitation of donations for the foundation; if the group raised money outside of this residential venue, it has not been documented. Since the March of Dimes focused their research efforts on the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality, it seems like an obvious choice for the State's Mates to support, especially since many of them were young mothers themselves. This shows that their status as women, wives, and mothers played a key role in determining the types of organizations that they sought to help. 

This 1950s poster urges people to donate to The March of Dimes.

Furthermore, the March of Dimes advertising from this era is clearly directed toward women; both images in the exhibit depict women as caregivers that are directly responsible for the well-being of the sick children. It is therefore the responsibility of all women to support this organization as a means of securing a bright future for all of America's children.

Like other early State's Mates civic projects on the campus of North Carolina State college, documentation of their participation in fundraising drives is minimal during the reign of the Projects Committee. Since there is an abundance of documentary evidence showing that the group members were active participators in the March of Dimes in the 1970s, it is possible that they continued to participate throughout the club's run, with their efforts being overshadowed by the time consuming annual projects.

Interested in learning more about the March of Dimes? The organization's website provides a vast amount of information regarding the history of the foundation, current issues, and ways to get involved.

Visit other Exhibits in the Good Wife Diploma.