There was no on-field winner or loser when the Newtown High School girls’ soccer team tied visiting Pomperaug of Southbury 1-1, at Blue & Gold Stadium on September 11. But, for Newtown Coach Marc Kenney and his family, the volunteer parents and fans who supported the team’s annual March of Dimes fundraiser were the true winners of the night.

Parents, including Tara Kortze and Julie Curtis, collected donations for the March of Dimes in the stands during the September 11 game.

And while Kenney’s Nighthawks may have defeated visiting Amity of Woodbridge 2-0 two days earlier, the Amity program, too, was a big winner in Mr Kenney’s book.

The soccer program raised $375 through donations and received a check for $250 from the Amity’s team this year. All of the money was donated to March of Dimes, Mr Kenney said.

He and his wife, Kateri, said they will forever feel indebted to March of Dimes, a charity that played such a large role in helping them through the premature birth of both of their sons. Jordan, who was born in April 2009 at 32 weeks weighed four pounds, and Ryan, born December 2011 at 25 weeks weighed two pounds.

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies and the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign aims to reduce premature birth in the United States and to give every baby a fair chance for a healthy full-term birth.

In January of 2012, senior Madeline Keane (now playing professionally in Europe) and junior Amy Martin spearheaded a youth clinic, along with Brian Neumeyer, former NHS boys’ coach, in which they raised money for Kenney’s family to deal with the circumstances surrounding Ryan’s birth.

“To this day, it is among the most generous things anyone has done for us. We started the March of Dimes benefit that next fall with the help of an amazing senior class that went on to win the state championship. It is something we have done ever since,” Mr Kenney said.

“Just knowing that the organization was so helpful to Marc and Kateri and their family, I think it’s a good give-back for the girls. The girls have grown up with the boys. They come to games, they come to pasta parties, they come to special events we have. So they’re part of the family,” said Ms Kortze, mom of captain Keeley Kortze.

“It gives the kids on this team an opportunity to be a part of a meaningful cause and give back,” said Ms Curtis, mom of captain Emma Curtis, adding that she works for a non-profit organization, giving her insight on the importance of fundraising efforts.

Ms Curtis added that it is important to give back to an organization that will give other children a chance at a healthy life despite being born prematurely.

“Premature birth (birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and its complications are the number one cause of death of babies in the United States,” according to the March of Dimes website, www.marchofdimes.org.

“It’s scary,” Ms Curtis said.

“Our parents are amazing. No matter what I ask of them they’re always willing to do it,” Mr Kenney said. “This program, besides my family, is the most important part of my life. It’s really special.”

Among those in attendance for the fundraiser game was Desiree Scott, a nurse at Waterbury Hospital who cared for Jordan, and whose daughter, Lindsay Scott, played at Pomperaug and also, coincidentally, had Mr Kenney as her club soccer coach.

Small world.

And a rewarding one for Ms Scott, who was thrilled to see her former patient and his sibling, both healthy and doing well. Jordan sang the Star Spangled Banner prior to the game.

“It’s awesome to hear him sing the national anthem. To know where he came from and what he went through is amazing. It’s why I do my job,” Ms Scott said.