To honor the 380,000 babies born prematurely each year in the United States and their families, prominent buildings and landmarks nationwide, including the Empire State Building in New York City, will be bathed in purple lights for Prematurity Awareness Month in November.
Prematurity Awareness Month is being supported by Ally Brooke Hernandez, singer and member of Fifth Harmony, who was born three months premature herself; Chef Jacques Torres, who will host a fundraising event as part of Light BKLYN Purple in New York City; and Kelsey Nixon, Celebrity Chef from the Cooking Channel and contributor to The Rachael Ray Show.
Premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) is the #1 killer of babies in the U.S., and the leading cause of death of children under age 5 around the world. Babies who survive an early birth often face serious and lifelong health problems, including breathing problems, jaundice, vision loss, cerebral palsy and intellectual delays.
Prematurity Awareness Month lightings include State Capitol buildings in Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, as well as:
Birmingham Zoo, AL;
Union Plaza Building (downtown skyline), Little Rock, AR;
All 5 river bridges spanning the Arkansas River;
Hippodrome Theater, Gainesville, FL;
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH;
Howard Hughes Corporation Building, Honolulu, HI;
Power & Light Building, Kansas City, MO;
Biloxi Lighthouse, MS;
Pacific Science Center, Seattle, WA;
The Auxilio Mutuo Hospital, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.
November 17 will be recognized around the globe as the 6th annual World Prematurity Day (WPD).
