St. Joseph’s Maternity Outreach Unit One Of 8 National Finalists Vying For $100,000 Prize

Public voting will help MOMobile continue to provide vital prenatal care for low-income pregnant women

An extra $100,000 is just a matter of votes away for a local charity that provides prenatal care for underserved women throughout the Valley.

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center’s Maternity Outreach Unit (MOMobile) is one of the top 8 finalists in Proctor and Gamble’s national Do More Than You Think contest, which recognizes charitable organizations that focus on health and wellness. The winner of the contest, determined by public voting, will receive $100,000 and a trip to appear on The Dr. Oz Show.

St. Joseph’s MOMobile provides early and continuous prenatal care to underserved women who don’t have the resources needed to obtain medical treatment. The 60-foot mobile clinic includes two fully-equipped exam rooms, an ultrasound machine, an external fetal monitor and a laboratory. Staffed by nurses and an outreach coordinator, the MOMobile spends five hours a day in high-risk locations throughout the Valley, treating hundreds of women each year.

Seventeen-year MOMobile employee Margarita Montijo, LPN, clinical coordinator, nominated the mobile unit for the contest.

“Over the years, the MOMobile has made a tremendous difference in our community by bringing care to pregnant women who otherwise wouldn’t get any medical attention. Areas that once had statistically low birth-weight babies have seen dramatic improvements,” says Montijo “Running the clinic – including fuel and repairs – is expensive, but bringing healthy babies into the world is priceless.”

St. Joseph’s is asking the community to help by participating in the public voting process at www.DoMoreThanYouThink.com. Participants can vote once per day per e-mail address through Friday, March 14.

The grand prize winner will be announced on March 14. “The average birth weight of babies born to our patients is seven pounds and seven ounces, which is higher than the state average and two pounds over the mark for a low weight baby,” says Gail Brown, NP and MOMobile manager. “Winning the Do More Than You Think contest would allow the MOMobile to continue fostering healthy pregnancies in our community.

Contact: Sarah McGrain, (480) 318-4958