Dylan Conn Age:17, Columbia, MO

My next-door neighbor Owen was born three months early and he only weighed two pounds, four ounces,” says Dylan Conn. “That was when I found out what premature birth is. It happens to so many babies, but you never really know about it until it affects someone close to you.”

Touched by Owen’s situation, Dylan participated in the March of Dimes walk. Hearing even more stories of babies born prematurely, he kept getting more and more involved with the organization, which also helps fight birth defects and infant mortality.

“I am currently,” says Dylan, “the sole youth member on the Missouri March of Dimes Board of Directors, and am also a member of the Central Missouri Division Board of Directors. Locally as a volunteer, I have personally raised nearly $2,000 for the March for Babies, the biggest annual event for the March of Dimes.

“I am also involved with the March of Dimes on a national level. To solicit more volunteers and donors I created a group for the March of Dimes on the social networking web site Facebook (www.causes.com/marchofdimes). My group currently has over 287,000 members from across the world, and the web site enables parents and relatives of children born prematurely to communicate with each other about their experiences and donate directly to the organization. I continually update the web site with the most recent information about the March of Dimes, and work closely with local and national staff.”

Dylan’s volunteer work with the March of Dimes has helped shape his career goals. He would like to go to medical school and become a neonatologist so that he can help all babies leave the hospital with their families. His excellent grades make that dream seem possible; the junior has maintained a place on the A honor roll throughout high school. He received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, and is a member of the French National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, a national mathematics honor society.

Besides giving him a cause to be passionate about, the March of Dimes has connected Dylan with people to admire. One of them is Dr. Jennifer Howse, the president of March of Dimes. “Dr. Howse,” says Dylan, “has done so many great things as president, and has successfully steered the organization in a positive direction for many years. I admire the work she has done as president, and also look up to her because she knows that volunteers are the heart of the March of Dimes.”

Another person who inspired Dylan is Paul Rusesabagina, who told his story in the book ‘An Ordinary Man.’ The book was the inspiration for the hit movie Hotel Rwanda, which showed how Rusesabagina turned his hotel into a haven for people during the Rwandan genocide. “The book has helped show me how important it is to help others, whether it’s in the face of genocide, or just in my own community. Rusesabagina did amazing things during the Rwandan genocide, yet he never comes off as arrogant — he just wanted to help others survive something he thought was completely unjust.”