Bay Ridge
More purple!
On Nov. 17 Coney Island’s iconic Parachute Jump in Luna Park joined with our own Borough Hall and other landmarks around the world to light the night fantastic in pretty powerful purple hues to highlight World Prematurity Day.
Standing O pal Ridgeite John Quaglione, who was instrumental and worked with Borough President Eric Adams to arrange for the light-up, was on hand with his wife Kerry along with their two beautiful daughters Natalie Grace and Olivia — who were both born premature — to share in the purple glow.
For the past several years John and Kerry have participated in the annual March for Babies walk-a-thon, and as Team Natalie Grace, raised a ton of cash to the charity for research.
Worldwide, 15 million babies are born preterm and more than a million die as a result. In the United States, about 380,000 babies are born too soon each year — that’s one in 10. Premature birth is the largest contributor to infant death in our country and the leading cause of death for children under age 5 around the world.
Standing O says, “Thanks John and family.”
To learn more about the many programs offered by the March of Dimes visit march
