![My respect and support for [March of Dimes Rhode Island] has grown. /](https://assets.pbn.com/uploads/2010/06/1276880449_ae63.jpg "My respect and support for [March of Dimes Rhode Island] has grown. /")
Deborah Thomas has been named the 2010 March of Dimes Rhode Island Citizen of the Year. Thomas has held various positions of increasing responsibility at Hasbro Inc. since 1998, and was appointed CFO in 2009. The March of Dimes Rhode Island board of directors selected Thomas for her commitment to the March of Dimes mission to champion the health of all babies.
PBN: How did you first become involved with the March of Dimes?
THOMAS: My first involvement with the March of Dimes came more than 20 years ago. I wanted to become involved with an organization that benefited children, and I came to know and respect the organization. Over time, by seeing directly the wonderful work the March of Dimes does in our state by providing tremendous resources for education and advocacy, my respect and support for the organization has grown.
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PBN: What recent programs is March of Dimes supporting in the community through the support of Hasbro?
THOMAS: The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. March of Dimes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts has received about $500,000 throughout the past eight years from the Hasbro Children’s Fund and funds raised by Hasbro employees. These gifts support advocacy, education, Rhode Island community grants, and research on a regional and national level. Most recently, Hasbro gifts in Rhode Island have supported the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. More than 30 babies are born prematurely each week in Rhode Island alone, and premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death nationwide.
PBN: What does this award mean to you?
THOMAS: I am both honored and humbled by this award, from an organization I have such respect for and to be in the company of such distinguished past recipients. •
