Four Month Old Premature Birth Survivor Encourages Utility Workers

MAYS LANDING, N.J . - Atlantic City Electric employees recently welcomed the 2010 March of Dimes National Ambassador, Joshua Hoffman , at their Carneys Point facility in Salem County . The seven year old ambassador from Weston, Fla., visited the company to share his survival story and encourage employees to help raise awareness and support for research of premature birth.

Joshua was born more than four months early, weighing 1 pound, 11 ounces with underdeveloped organs. There was uncertainty as to whether he would survive - or ever walk, talk, see or hear.

As a result of research and treatments funded by the March of Dimes, Joshua overcame his premature birth. He spent 3½ months in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU), and had many surgeries and treatments, including heart surgery, laser eye surgery and blood transfusions.

According to the Institute of Medicine, premature birth has increased more than 36 percent in the last 25 years in the United States, and now affects 540,000 babies annually. It is the leading cause of newborn death and costs the nation more than $26 billion annually in health care costs.

Atlantic City Electric Region President Vince Maione said, "For many years, Atlantic City Electric has been a strong supporter of the March of Dimes. Our employee's participation in the March of Dimes has brought us closer to the communities we serve."

"Atlantic City Electric has organized a walk team and participated in the March for Babies in Salem County for many years. We are grateful to their consistent fundraising of more than $10,000 annually to support our mission and help save babies," said March of Dimes, New Jersey Chapter Executive Director Dania Sargent.

This year, employee volunteers raised more than $11,000, including a company match and participated in the walk held in Pennsville, NJ, on April 24.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more information, visit marchofdimes.com.

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Atlantic City Electric, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe, reliable and affordable regulated electric delivery services to more than 547,000 customers in southern New Jersey.