Hello Everyone!

Wow did I have the best time as the 2010 National Ambassador last year!  I traveled around the U.S. to 19 different states and over 55 cities, some more than once or twice, and met so many amazing people like all of you in Fort Myers.  Now I’m back to being a normal kid - going to school, working hard to get good grades, playing the piano and singing, and goofing off with my little brother Alex.

But boy did I learn so many things that I will never forget.  I now know how the March of Dimes funds research that develops life-saving treatments that helped save my life when I was born four months early and weighed only one pound eleven ounces.  Doctors said I would probably never be able to walk, talk, see, or hear, but I proved them all wrong!  So having the chance to give back for every day I’ve been given was so awesome.  As the National Ambassador for the March of Dimes I tried to fight hard for preemies like me.

There’s a quote I heard by Charlie Brown and I’d love to share it with you.  He said, “In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.”

Even though my life was a little rough in the beginning, all I remember is everything I’m doing now. I hope I’m helping to save other babies so they can be born healthy like my little brother Alex was. I hope I’m helping other families so they don’t have to go through all the scary things my family went through with me. I know how lucky I am with my whole life ahead of me and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone in the world!

On behalf of all of my fellow preemies and all babies thank you all so much for your huge support of the March of Dimes, and for giving us the chance to grow up, reach for the stars, and watch our wishes come true.

See you at the Masquerade Ball!!!

Love,
Joshua Hoffman
2010 National Ambassador
March of Dimes

With Kerry Walsh, Olympic Gold Winner – volleyball, and Dr. Howse, July, 2010

At the NASCAR race with the FedEx Racing/March for Babies racecar, April, 2010

Speaking at Farmers’ “Be A Hero for Babies Day”, July, 2010

With Gretchen Carlson on the set of Fox & Friends (also with Dr. Fleischman, Medical Director, March of Dimes), Prematurity Awareness Month, November, 2009

With Julie Bowen, Actress on Modern Family, at the premiere of the BABIES documentary in L.A. in May, 2010

Our family on the Red Carpet in L.A. at the Celebration of Babies event in November, 2010