TTMF Announces New Board President

The Tiny Miracles Foundation (TTMF) announces a new Board President, Marisela (Sela) Esposito of Weston. She replaces Elizabeth (Leelee) Klein of Darien who led the organization for the past nine years. Leelee will continue to Chair the Programs Committee for The Tiny Miracles Foundation and remains a key member of the Board of Directors.

Marisela (Sela) Esposito, a Cuban immigrant, grew up in New York City. She graduated from Katharine Gibbs Business School in 1982. Marisela managed procurement for Barr Laboratories in New York and later for Connecticut based Purdue Pharma’s R&D and Manufacturing sites. From 2004 to 2013 she worked with a prominent retired lawyer, in the conservation of birds, their habitat and the environment. Marisela has been actively involved with Weston's PTO Board, Little League of America and USA Youth Hockey.

Marisela has volunteered for The Tiny Miracles Foundation over the last six years mentoring preemie parents at Norwalk Hospital as our first Spanish speaking mentor and has repeatedly served as Chair of the Gala Committee, TTMF’s largest yearly fundraising event. Her personal experience, commitment and continued leadership make her a wonderful fit for the role. Marisela suffered the personal loss of her twin girls at 21 weeks into her pregnancy. Her son Dante, now 13 years old, was born at Norwalk Hospital weighing 1 pound 15 ounces at 25.3 weeks gestation and spent several months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Quote: “It is an honor and privilege to be the new President of the Board of an organization driven by so many wonderful, passionate and dedicated volunteers. My years mentoring families has allowed me to give back for the blessings of my son, by offering hope to families in the NICU and has helped me grow stronger from the loss of not having experienced a full-term pregnancy.”

TTMF looks forward to its twelfth year supporting preemies and their families in Fairfield County. Additional board members joining this year include Westport residents, Michael Carbino of Stamford based Barnum Wealth Management and Michelle Hogue of Hogue Interior Design.

The Tiny Miracles Foundation assists over 1,000 local families per year throughout Fairfield County through programs at our five partner hospitals: Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Danbury, and most recently, St. Vincent’s Medical Center and services to the community at large. Support provided by TTMF volunteers who have personally experienced the premature birth of a baby, the complications that arise, the challenges families face, and in sad cases, the loss of a precious tiny miracle, is invaluable to these families and is one of the many things that makes TTMF so special.

To learn more about The Tiny Miracles Foundation and their support programs, please go to www.ttmf.org or call the office at 203-202-9714.

Photo: Marisela Esposito and Michael Carbino