About

Rounds at the Grounds is a partnership with the Jacksonville Suns that builds on Healthy Start’s commitment to community awareness and action.

Each day, doctors step up to the plate to hit homeruns for Jacksonville families seeking quality health care and solutions. In September, in recognition of Infant Mortality Awareness Month, physicians gather at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville to make “Rounds at the Grounds” for a celebrity baseball game.

2012 Rounds at the Grounds: Save the Date! August 5

The 2012 Rounds at the Grounds: Baseball for Babies game will be Sunday, August 5, 2012 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Stay tuned for more information: http://nefhealthystart.org/rounds

2011 Rounds at the Grounds

Nearly 25 area doctors took their life-saving efforts out to the ballpark as participants in the second annual Rounds at the Grounds: Baseball for Babies celebrity softball tournament held in observance of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month on Sunday, September 4th at 5 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the Jacksonville Suns, Rounds at the Grounds featured Jacksonville Jaguar tackle and Healthy Start ambassador Eugene Monroe. Teammate Eben Britton joined Eugene as coach of the opposing team. In addition, Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller, President, Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women, and Al Emerick, Health Physician Partners, returned as celebrity sideline media correspondents.

Attendees received health tips on fans and baseball cards featuring Eugene Monroe and his wife, Nureya.

More than $43,000 was raised through sponsors, donors and ticket sales to continue community education and awareness efforts. The Chartrand Foundation generously matches up to $40,000 of the money raised to support the campaign to make a noise, make a difference and prevent infant mortality!

2010 Rounds at the Grounds

The inaugural “Rounds” was held September 5, 2010. Area doctors, including obstetricians, surgeons, pediatricians, orthopedics, oncologists and other medical professionals participated in the inaugural game. Dr. C.B. McIntosh, Jacksonville’s first African American pediatrician, threw out the first pitch.

The teams — black and gold — were coached by Eugene Monroe, Jacksonville Jaguar, and his teammate, Eben Britton. The players not only played an entertaining game, but helped raise awareness about the ways to prevent infant mortality. Baseball cards with health tips were not only passed out to the people who attended the softball game, but to the more than 4,000 people who attended the Jacksonville Suns game. Olympic gold medalist, Shannon Miller, and local commentator, Al Emerick, served as celebrity correspondents and helped make the game very colorful with their fun commentary.

The buzz surrounding the “Rounds at the Grounds” was incredible with more than 500 people attending the game. Nearly 20 dedicated sponsors of all levels, supported Healthy Start’s efforts by donating more than $21,000 and attending the game to cheer on the doctors who were making a noise and making a difference to prevent infant mortality.