Respironics Becomes National Sponsor for March of Dimes

Donates Half Million for NICU Family Support ® Project

Murrysville, PA - November 16, 2005

Left to right – Joe Bundick, PA State Board Chairman for the March of Dimes and John Miclot, President and CEO of Respironics, Inc.

John Miclot, president and CEO of Respironics, recently announced a national partnership under which the Company will donate $500,000 over the next three years in support of the March of Dimes' Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Support SM Project. Through this project, which is part of the Prematurity Campaign, the March of Dimes provides information and support to families who have a baby born early or with a medical condition. NICU Family Support addresses the needs of mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents and the extended family of newborns throughout the NICU stay, during the transition home and in the event of a newborn death. Respironics is one of three national sponsors for this March of Dimes project. 

"Through our Children's Medical Ventures (ChMV) business unit, part of our mission is to enhance the safety and well-being of babies and their families by providing resources that improve both the short- and long-term outcomes of neonates," said Miclot. "We are privileged to partner with the March of Dimes, and to be a national sponsor of the NICU Family Support Project." ChMV is the leading provider of developmentally supportive products for premature babies, healthy newborns and older hospitalized infants offering apnea monitors and recorders, developmental care products, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment tools for neonatal jaundice and educational resources like the Preemie for a Day ® program.

The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign was launched as an all-out effort to reduce prematurity on a number of fronts. This multimillion-dollar research, awareness and education campaign helps families to have healthier babies and carries two goals: to increase public awareness of the problems of prematurity, and to help the nation reach the goal set by the U.S. Public Health Service of reducing the rate of premature birth to 7.6 percent by 2010. 

According to statistics from the March of Dimes, nearly half a million babies are born prematurely every year in the United States and one in eight is born prematurely every day. Premature babies are more likely to suffer lifelong consequences, and premature birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths.

To shed light on the facts and issues that surround premature births, each November, the March of Dimes observes Prematurity Awareness Month and November 15 as Prematurity Awareness Day ® - a day when pink and blue is visible everywhere, from wristbands to city skylines. Additionally, events are held throughout the country, including Pittsburgh where there were lightings of Magee-Women's Hospital, West Penn Hospital and the Cathedral of Learning.

"We are fortunate during this special month of November to announce Respironics as a national sponsor for the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Project," said Scott Berns, M.D., Vice President of Chapter Programs for the March of Dimes. "Their sponsorship helps demonstrate the commitment and passion that Respironics has to saving the lives of babies born prematurely. Respironics and its business unit, ChMV, have been strong supporters and partners of our organization both locally and nationally for several years, and for that we are grateful."

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.  For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.

Children's Medical Ventures, a business unit of Respironics, Inc., is the leading provider of developmental supportive products for premature babies, healthy newborns and hospitalized infants. We offer high quality products and education programs that meet the unique needs of these special babies, their caregivers, and their families. Our mission is to provide the products and education programs that promote the best developmental outcomes for babies and children. Further information on Children's Medical Ventures can be found on its website at www.childmed.com. 

Respironics is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative products and programs that serve the global sleep and respiratory markets. Focusing on emerging market needs, the Company is committed to providing valued solutions to help improve outcomes for patients, clinicians and healthcare providers. Respironics markets its products in more than 131 countries and employs more than 4,000 associates worldwide. Further information can be found on the Company's Web site: www.respironics.com.

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