Linda Szabo has been executive director of the Southwest Division of the March of Dimes for 23 years.

So how did a journalism major get into nonprofit work?

“What happened was I interviewed at the Ledger-Enquirer but there was a hiring freeze,” Szabo said.

“My first interview after that was with the March of the Dimes and I got that job right out of college. And that’s where I’ve been.”

Unlike most charitable organizations, you won’t find Szabo’s pictures on the website.

“If you want to see what I look like, buy a ticket and come to one of our events. It’s not about me. It’s all about the organization and what we do. That’s the way I’ve always been.”

We spoke to Szabo (pronounced Say-bo) last week about two of her biggest fundraisers, Signature Chefs and Night Walk.

This interview is edited for length and clarity.

What does your job as executive director entail?

I’ve got the Southwest Georgia Division. It’s about 52 counties. It’s everything below Carrollton and we coverall the counties along theGeorgia line. I do have Phenix City and Russell County. We go south, all the way to the Florida line. We don’t have Macon, so it’s not along I-75, but we do have Valdosta.

What is your typical day like?

When I first started working, I had to travel a lot. I’ve built up a great volunter base. They are dedicated volunteers who have been with us a long time. I still do some traveling, anywhere in Southwest Georgia.

What do people need to know about the March of Dimes?

It’s a veteran, established, national charity formed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 in Warm Springs. It was founded here and the national headquarters is in White Plains, N.Y., where he was from. It was called the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis until (vaudeville star) Eddie Cantor named it March of Dimes in the late 1950s. The Callaway family sold some land to President Roosevelt for the Little White House.

Who does the March of Dimes help?

Mothers and babies; pre-natal care and providing information on birth defects. We give grants for high risk nurseries and nurses’ education.

What are the main fundraisers in our area for the March of Dimes?

We have the March for Babies in the spring. It has tonas of little fundraisers. We have the paper pumpkin campaign in the Piggy Wiggly stores. Those are like the sneakers. We have Walk Mania in the schools. We have Signature Chers and Night Walk. We’ve streamlined or events. We make sure that they are not only fun, but beneficial and well worth the efforts of volunteers’ time.

Does money that is raised locally stay in the community?

A portion does. The rest goes to the national office. We don’t have a national research area like North Carolina’s Triangle. We do give grants to the State of Georgia at Emory University and the Center for Disease Control if they apply for a grant.

How much money needs to be raised to help the people who need assistance from the March of Dimes?

I’ve never really thought about it. There’s a percentage of money that we get to keep. I just raise money. I get people to ask for help. We don’t really give money to individuals, but rather to organizations, hospitals and research centers. What we do is teach mainly about pre-natal care.

How can people contribute to the March of Dimes if they can’t attend a fundraising event?

They can make a donation. Just call my office or call their local office.

What nonmonetary ways can people support the March of Dimes?

They can come volunteer their time. Just go a March of Dimes office anywhere. I’m hoping to build a volunteer for life. I hope they will stay with the mission.

And what is the mission?

“We help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies,” which is on our website.

What do guests need to know about the Signature Chef’s event?

We have 20 restaurants participating, serving their selected best foodsamplings.

Which chefs will be featured at this year’s event, and what will they be serving?

We have Jamie Keating of RiverMill Event Centre, Callalway Gardens’ Chris Smith, John Weatherford of the Country Club of Columbus. We have chefs from C’Sons in Lagrange, B Merrell’s, Rankin Quarter, the Bullock House in Warm Springs and Dinners Ready from Warm Springs. We have Austin Scott of the Muscogee County School District’s culinary program and Phill McCoy of Central High School of Phenix City’s culinary program.

What type of items will be available to bid on in the silent and live auctions?

Trips, jewelry, artists’ work, a grill, a crib, every restaurant gives a package, we have tons of autographed memorabilia, tickets to events in Atlanta and Columbus, including the Broadway series at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.

What do guests need to know about the Night Walk at Callaway Gardens?

It’s Sunday, Nov. 20. It’s the 19th year for Night Walk. It’s a fantastic event. Last year, we walked with 6,000 people because we had beautiful weather. We have the phones ringing off the hook. You can come to the office and get brochure to get a ticket. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the first group of walkers go at 6 p.m. The only ticket sold that night at Callaway Gardens is at 7 p.m.

Last year’s Night Walk had 6,000 participants. How many do you expect at this year’s event and how has it grown over the years?

6,002. I’ve seen drive-throughs for charitable organizations, but I haven’t seen a walk. The 6 p.m. slot is the first to sell out. People want that time. The ambiance of the lights and music set it apart from other light displays. It’s a fantastic family affair. We get a lot of church groups, other groups and students. We have people from Palm Beach, Fla., South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee. We have people from Atlanta, the Macon area and Alabama. We have snowbirds who come to Callaway Gardens who walk. It’s grown and it’s growing more. It’s right before Thanksgiving so we have a lot of kids home from college who walk with their families. I’ve seen children grow up. My own niece, Rachel, was a baby the first time.

How long has The March of Dimes Walk for Babies been in existence and who does it help?

It’s been 70-plus years. It’s the fifth year of Signature Chefs in and the 19th year of Night Walk.

What type of support and help do you need to successfully pull off these fundraising events?

We have to have dedicated volunteers and donors and businesses. It’s amazing what people will donate, from the vendors to companies to restaurants and chefs and other indiviudals, too. Volunteers’ time is more of a commodity these days. To have these volunteers give us their time that we can never pay them for it is so important. The events wouldn’t happen without them.