Bank CEO, president named honorary chair

The Laredo Division of the March of Dimes announced that Falcon International Bank CEO and President Adolfo E. Gutierrez will serve as honorary chairman for WalkAmerica 2006 on Sunday, April 23.
Lucy Lucio, assistant vice president in charge of Foreign Exchange and Letters of Credit for Falcon Bank, will be the chairperson of the 2006 Walk. Falcon Bank’s Executive Vice President Sabás Zapata, III will be the walk’s revenue chairperson.
Lucio, Marketing and Business Development Officer Jackie de la Viña, and Falcon Bank Loan Processor Ana M. Barrientos currently serve on the March of Dime’s Board of Directors. De la Viña will assist Lucio as the team captain for Falcon Bank.
“Falcon Bank has always been a very good friend of the Laredo division of the March of Dimes,” said Norma Saldana-Lopez, Laredo Division director for the March of Dimes. “Mr. Gutierrez has participated in some of the walks and leads the fantastic participation at Falcon Bank. Bank employees have raised money for and participated in the WalkAmerica event since 1997, and the bank has been a WalkAmerica Sponsor since 1999. Falcon Bank staff members also have helped in the planning of the WalkAmerica event, as well as serving on the local board, since 1999.”
“As a family business, Falcon Bank knows the necessity of ensuring our children’s health and safety,” said Gutierrez. “The much-needed money from WalkAmerica will go to research to find the causes of prematurity and how it can be prevented, to support families whose babies must spend time in neonatal intensive care units, and to educate women with the latest information on pregnancy and premature birth. I encourage all leaders of the business community to support WalkAmerica and to organize teams of employees to raise money to help the half a million babies in the U.S. that arrive too soon.”
“Falcon Bank has always been supportive of the March of Dimes, but I have a very personal reason to give it my energy and assistance,” said Zapata. “In 1996 and 1997, my wife and I were recognized as the first Ambassador Family in Laredo so we could convey our personal story of the many challenges that families face when they have a premature baby. Our son, Sabás IV, was born premature at seven months, weighing 3 lbs. and 3 oz. and with apnea and reflux--an eating disorder. We quickly learned that the care our son received was a result of the research that March of Dimes had done. This great care spurred me to personally raise more than $1,500 in 1996 and 1997 for each Walk, earning me the “Battered Boot” award both years.”
Among March of Dimes’ lifesaving breakthroughs are pioneering surgery that corrects certain birth defects before a baby is born, surfactant therapy to help babies breathe, and other new tests and treatments that help “preemie” babies recover. Prematurity is the leading killer of babies in their first month of life, and a major cause of long-term health problems, including a cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness and chronic lung problems.
“Last year the Laredo division raised approximately $134,000 from the WalkAmerica, and we hope to exceed $143,000 in 2006,” Gutierrez said. “I urge you to join me Sunday, April 23, 2006, and help give all babies a fighting chance.”
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services education and advocacy to save babies.
Teams can register at www.walkamerica.org. For more information, visit the March of Dimes web site at www.marchofdimes.com/walkamerica, its Spanish web site at www.nacesano.org, or call (956) 791-6510.