VISALIA (KMJ) — Three of Tulare County’s top officials spent Thursday morning making breakfast outside for hundreds of hungry local workers. Their efforts were to raise money for the “March for Babies” campaign, managed by non-profit March of Dimes.
Organizers set up shop on the grass near the Peace Officers Memorial in Visalia, and the line quickly formed once serving started at 7am.
“We’re hoping to once again garner support for a really really good cause,” says District Attorney Tim Ward. “This is our second year as a county family coming together.”
The money raised will be used to help premature babies with long term health problems, such as cerebral palsy, vision loss, and other disabilities. The DA revealed that he has a daughter who had some serious medical problems soon after she was born.
“Children’s health and really the cause of March of Dimes and what they’re about, is naturally in line with something that struck a nerve with me.”
He was joined in the breakfast-making process by Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Fire Chief Charlie Norman.
“There’s always a little bit of healthy competition,” adds the District Attorney. “Without giving any trade secrets away, both the Sheriff and I are going after the Fire Chief.”
Fire Chief Charlie Norman welcomed the pancake rivalry.
“Being a firefighter, I’ve done this, this is not my first rodeo!”
Organizers with March of Dimes estimate the event raised $3,500 for the cause.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired: