As part of a movement to raise awareness of preterm birth, the iconic Coney Island Parachute Jump joined landmarks across the city in lighting purple on Friday, November 17 in celebration of World Prematurity Day and in partnership with the March of Dimes.
The Coney landmark joined the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Borough Hall in lighting for the occasion.
“As a parent of two premature children, it gave me great pride to see the Parachute Jump lit up in purple, and it made my daughter Natalie feel so special,” said local parent and March of Dimes supporter John Quaglione. “She was in awe of the purple lighting up the Coney Island sky. On behalf of the Brooklyn Committee of the March of Dimes, we thank and applaud Luna Park and Brooklyn Borough Hall for going purple in honor of World Prematurity Day.
“Working together here in Brooklyn to bring awareness, raise money, and support efforts to give babies a healthy start is a very worthy cause,” Quaglione went on. “My family and I look forward to doing more here in the community to help end prematurity.”
Worldwide, 15 million babies are born preterm and more than a million die as a result.
For more information on World Prematurity Day, visit marchofdimes.org/worldprematurityday.
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