Volunteer for Stop CMV

Volunteer for Stop CMV by answering one of our "Calls to Action": frequent tips and assignments that will help you become more involved in the CMV Action Network and while assisting Stop CMV via grassroots awareness, outreach, and advocacy programs.

Calls to Action

Become a supporter of Stop CMV

Become a supporter of Stop CMV and join a network of volunteers committed to preventing and eliminating congenital CMV and to improving the lives of all people affected by congenital CMV. Receive Action Network Alerts and newsletters to stay updated with projects, campaigns, and events within the CMV Action Network.

Simply click the gray pull down tab at the top of this webpage to join Stop CMV today!

Registration is free and your email address and personal information will never be sold to anyone. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

"Like" Stop CMV on Facebook

"Like" Stop CMV's Facebook Fan Page today! Engage in discussions, meet other supporters, and stay updated on news, happenings, and events within the CMV Action Network. Click here to get started!

Submit a Stop CMV hand photo and collect hand photos by "Handraising"

June is National Congenital CMV Awareness Month. For our second year, Stop CMV is collecting photos to raise awareness of CMV, to educate government officials in Washington, D.C. about the dangers of this common virus, and to demonstrate our commitment to congenital CMV as a national public health priority. As simple as it sounds, by writing “Stop CMV” on the palm of your hand, you’ll become part of a global community dedicated to raising awareness of congenital CMV and impacting millions of lives worldwide. Join your hand with ours and participate today... more info

Send a Stop CMV press release to your local media

Contact Stop CMV for a recent press release to send to your local media. If you would like to send a Stop CMV press release, we recommend the following guidelines:

• Compile a list of local media contacts including: the name of the media outlet (newspaper, magazine, television station, radio station, etc), the name of your contact, their title, their email address, and contact phone number.
• In most areas of the US, there are local affiliates of major networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc. Many of these affiliates produce a local news broadcast. If you have any trouble identifying your local affiliates, notify us at press@stopcmv.org.
• Many media outlets do not publish reporter contact information online. You will need to call the main phone number (listed on their website or in the phone book) and ask for the name, email address, and phone number (or extension) for their health reporter. If they do not have a health reporter, ask for the news editor or the “news desk”.
• Timing is everything when distributing a press release. Send your press release overnight or first thing in the morning. For daily publications/broadcasts – 3-4 days prior. For weekly publications/broadcasts – 3-4 weeks prior. For monthly publications/broadcasts – 3-4 months prior.
• When emailing the release, cut and paste the entire body of the release into the email. Type “RELEASE -” into the subject line and cut and paste the release headline so that the subject line reads “RELEASE – Headline of Press Release”.
• Follow up the next day with the contact via telephone. You will improve the chances that they will read the press release and you will also foster a media contact relationship.
• Your follow up call may sounds like this: “Hello, my name is ____________ calling from Stop CMV. I had sent through a press release and wanted to make sure you had received it. Let me know if you have any questions or would like any CMV families or supporters to interview.” Be sure to thank the contact for their time.
• Be patient. Sending a press release is like fishing. Not every contact will bite and not every cast will produce a catch.
• When you are interviewed for a news story, please use the facts and information from the Stop CMV website and identify yourself as a Stop CMV supporter or volunteer.
• Your contact may be interested in interviewing a local doctor about congenital CMV. It is highly preferable that they interview an Infectious Disease Specialist or a Pediatrician. If you need help finding a doctor in your area to be interviewed, please notify us at media@stopcmv.org.
• If a press release results in any coverage or you need further support or information, please notify Stop CMV at media@stopcmv.org.

Print and post Stop CMV awareness flyers

Help us by printing and posting Stop CMV awareness flyers to help raise awareness of congenital CMV. Distribute and post flyers in public meeting places--OB/GYN offices, pediatrician offices, family practice offices, daycares, preschools, college health centers--anywhere where at-risk populations congregate, work or socialize.

How to get started:

• Print out the flyer above detailing information about CMV and prevention measures.
• You may want to print up to 5 or 10 flyers in case the physician decides to post the flyers in individual examination rooms.
• You may choose to make a phone call to the physician to ask for permission ahead of time. This may increase the probability of your success.
• Take the flyer to the physicians office.
• If it is your physician and you do not have an appointment, greet the staff member at the front desk and ask to have the flyer posted in the main lobby waiting room, in individual exam rooms, or the restroom. (For example: "Hello, I am a patient of Dr. _____________. I realize that I don't have an appointment today but I was wondering if it is possible to have this flyer hung up in the bathroom, waiting room, or exam rooms?")
• If you are asked about the flyer or CMV, you can simply say, "CMV is a common virus that causes birth defects and disabilities."
• Be sure to thank any staff members, nurses, or physicians who assist you when you bring in the flyer.

Stop CMV awareness flyers are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Czech, Romanian, Greek, Russian, and Bulgarian... more info

Student Governments and Leadership Programs - September

Now is the time of year that high school and college campus student governments and leadership programs are selecting their causes of the year! You can help Stop CMV by contacting your local high schools, colleges, and/or alma maters to ask if they would consider devoting their year to congenital CMV.

Below is sample text for a form email/letter to send. Please replace the information in CAPS with your personal information:

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you on behalf of Stop CMV - The CMV Action Network, the largest non-profit organization in the world dedicated to preventing congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus) and improving the lives of those affected by congenital CMV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 150 children is born with congenital CMV, putting them at serious risk for deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, seizures, feeding disorders, behavior disorders, even death. CMV prevention measures are rarely communicated to women and we want to increase the public profile of congenital CMV to save tens of thousands of babies each year from death and disability.

As an alumni of SCHOOL NAME OR member of the CITY community and a CMV MOTHER/FATHER/FAMILY MEMBER AND/OR Stop CMV supporter, I would like to ask your campus student government or leadership program to consider participating in community outreach projects. I would be happy to work with any member of your staff to continue our public education efforts to raise awareness of this dangerous, common virus.

Please feel free to visit the Stop CMV website at www.StopCMV.org for more information or contact me directly via email at EMAIL ADDRESS.

Thank you for considering this request and best wishes for a wonderful school year.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME