Educators influence children’s lives in so many ways. And one quite distinguished educator has already touched the lives of Anderson families whose children won’t begin school for quite a while.
Dr. Joanne Avery, retired superintendent of Anderson School District 4, served as volunteer March of Dimes Chairman for two years. And she went beyond merely serving in that position, raising funds to give new mothers gift bags filled with useful items, valuable information and a little inspiration.
“The March of Dimes in Anderson is so fortunate to have had Dr. Avery serve as Chairman,” said Brantley Reames, Senior Director of Donor Development for March of Dimes. “She shared with us the quality leadership that benefitted Anderson School District 4 for so many years. And she helped brighten the lives of many moms facing a challenging new chapter in their families.”
After serving more than 30 years in School District 4, Dr. Avery knows a thing or two about leadership. After earning a degree in Secondary Education and a Masters Degree in exercise physiology, she earned her doctorate degree from Clemson University in Educational Leadership. She began as a teacher and worked her way up through numerous administrative positions in the district. In 2020, she was chosen as Superintendent of the Year in South Carolina.
No story about Dr. Avery is complete without noting the crisis that helped define the depth of her leadership. In 2016, a 14-year-old boy shot three students and a teacher at Townville Elementary school, killing one child. In the dark, following days, she helped bring compassion and strength to a hurting community. And then she moved forward to improve security at every school in the district, and to implement a broad plan to enhance daily engagement among teachers, administrators, parents and students. She knew the power of positive, personal contact was key to a better future.
March of Dimes fundraising mission
Likewise, personal contact was the basis of her fundraising mission for the March of Dimes. Dr. Avery engaged each of Anderson County’s school districts to encourage giving in the fight for mothers and babies. Her efforts secured a generous donation that led to the creation of 150 take-home bags for Anderson families with premature babies in the AnMed Level 2 Nursery.
Each bag contained a travel cooler, water bottle, lip balm, button-front onesie, a Come Home Soon Baby Brother or Baby Sister coloring book and a bracelet. There was also a love stone with a meaningful saying, as a symbol of unconditional love and welcome. And each bag included information on Newborn Care and Healthy Eating from the March of Dimes.
“These gift bags were such a welcome gift for so many new mothers,” said Reames. “Welcoming a new baby is difficult enough, and when there are complications at birth, even simple items can make a huge difference in a family’s outlook. A gesture of support and care can go a long way, and the donation brought in by Dr. Avery touched a lot of families.”
In addition to gift bags, The March of Dimes provides many services for mothers and babies. Research grants have led to the development of newborn screening tests that help discover treatable body chemistry irregularities. There is research into maternal health conditions that can lead to premature birth, reduced birthweight and newborn illnesses. And some donation grants help prevent or improve childhood infections and chronic health conditions like diabetes, autism and asthma.
The March of Dimes is an excellent resource for information before, during and after pregnancy. Parents can learn about pre-pregnancy health, nutrition, folic acid and other wellness advice. There are guidelines for caring for a newborn and feeding tips. They can learn about pregnancy complications and premature birth, as well as how a newborn intensive care unit operates. And there is educational material about birth defects and grief after losing an infant. Parents can consult a list of frequently asked questions, and there’s a blog just for new moms.
Dr. Avery knows that encouraging generosity is a vital part of South Carolina living, and that giving from the heart begins with dedicated individuals. March of Dimes provides many types of support for families experiencing pregnancy, fighting for equitable health care for all moms and babies. That fight has continued for more than 80 years.
Today, March of Dimes provides comfort and support to parents about to have a family, and to families with children in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, to give the smallest among us the best opportunities to thrive. Thanks to the leadership of outstanding neighbors like Dr. Avery, March of Dimes can continue the pursuit of research and advocating for healthy babies every day.
