Westbury-based TheCuteKid.com, the world's largest online baby and kid photo contest, and The March of Dimes of Long Island have joined forces for the March of Dimes Long Island CuteKid Contest. In support of this major online fundraising initiative, which will benefit March of Dimes Long Island, TheCuteKid is also partnering with local Long Island and national businesses to help support and build awareness for the initiative.

"The March of Dimes Long Island Division is excited to partner with The CuteKid on this endeavor," Marissa Nihill, assistant community director for the March of Dimes, said. "The contest will provide Long Islanders the chance to participate in a fun contest, win excellent prizes and help us champion the needs of babies at the same time."

Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a national voluntary health organization whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. The March of Dimes carries out this mission through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies. According to the March of Dimes, 500,000 premature babies are born in the United States each year with 4,133 or nearly 12 percent of all Long Island babies born prematurely in 2004.

Like the March of Dimes, TheCuteKid.com (http://www.thecutekid.com), is committed to keeping the children from the Long Island community healthy and providing families with the resources to take care of premature babies. A Parent Media Group, Inc. company established in 2005 in Westbury by Greg Byrnes and Craig Handleman, TheCuteKid has become one of the world's most popular kid sites with over a million members and over 800,000 unique visitors monthly.

"March of Dimes is a wonderful charity for babies and children and we know that Long Island's got some of the cutest kids. Why not combine our expertise - CuteKid contests with the mission of March of Dimes - to help keep all babies healthy and raise money for a great cause," said Byrnes.

The CuteKid Contest is open to families with children ages 10 and under. By submitting a photo of one's child along with a $25 donation, you can enter the contest and support the March of Dimes; a $50 donation also gets you into TheCuteKid of the Year Contest; and a $100 donation includes entry along with the addition of a canvas portrait.

After entering the contest, parents will be encouraged to get their friends and families to vote for their child. Every vote will cost $1, with 100 percent of net proceeds going directly to the March of Dimes.

Offering hundreds in monthly prizes and its $25,000 college tuition fund grand prize, TheCuteKid has become the largest and most respected child photo contest online. Since its inception, TheCuteKid has become the go-to meeting place for parents interested in introducing their babies and children into the modeling and acting arena. In just over 3 years, TheCuteKid has grown to over 1.2 million members worldwide and has received over 2 million photos of cute kids. Dozens of talent and modeling agencies utilize the site and CuteKids have landed roles in major campaigns including JCPenney, Oscar Mayer, Disney Family Fun and Nickelodeon.

To enter, or for more information about the March of Dimes Long Island CuteKid Contest and prizes, visit http://www.thecutekid.com/marchofdimes.php. Entries will be accepted through Nov. 22.