WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paulina and Josh Levine have been named National Family Team Chairs for the 2016 March for Babies by the March of Dimes, it was announced today. The couple's tiny twin daughters Chloe and Isabelle were born prematurely at 26 weeks and died in their parents' arms shortly after their birth.
Since the loss of their babies in 2006, the Levines have been volunteers for the March of Dimes in New York City and raised nearly $350,000 to support prematurity research and other programs; they have ranked among the top 10 March for Babies family teams nationally, since 2010. "While we can never bring our baby girls back, Josh and I think the best way to honor their memory and give meaning to their lives is to dedicate ourselves to raising money for the March of Dimes, which fights for babies and preventing premature births," Paulina says. They served as a March of Dimes Mission Ambassador Family, and Paulina was named New York State's Volunteer of the Year in 2010.
In her role as National Family Team Chair, Paulina will continue to speak to other women who have lost babies. The couple will also recruit other March for Babies teams and participants, and help lead the event in New York City on Sunday, April 24, 2016. Their own team consists of nearly 100 participants, including their daughter Olivia, born in 2007, and son Julian, born in 2009.
Preterm birth is the number one killer of babies, and those who survive an early birth often face serious and sometimes lifelong health challenges, such as breathing problems, jaundice, developmental delays, vision loss, and cerebral palsy. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon have higher rates of death and disability than full-term babies.
Paulina is an active volunteer at her children's school and worked for nearly 20 years with Ann Inc. Josh Levine is the founder and chief experience officer of Alexander Interactive (Ai), a digital agency. Learn more about their family story on their website, www.goteamlevine.com.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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SOURCE March of Dimes
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