Help us to create opportunities for families to offer the best possible chance of future success to their growing children.  Your ongoing support will enable us to keep building a world where all children are nurtured with the resources, support and love required for their lifelong success and joy.

In Massachusetts, according to the Annie Casey Foundation's Kids Count there are 184,000 children (13% of children) living in poverty.  The number of children without secure parental employment has risen to nearly one-third (32%) creating economic stress and instability for even greater numbers of families.   It has been a difficult year for our families.  Many are coping with unemployment, while others have lost their homes.  Despite these immense challenges, all preserve their commitment to being the best parents for their children and to doing all that they can to provide their children the best possible start in life.

In the face of so many complex issues and challenges for families is the strength and hope Room to Grow provides to families in need.  Room to Grow is a unique and special place - and an innovative and comprehensive solution for babies born into poverty. 

Celebrate this holiday season by giving hope and support to parents, and  comfort and joy to a baby born into poverty.  There are many ways to help and every gift makes a difference.  Make a tax-deductible contribution of just $25, $50 or more in honor of a loved one, and a beautiful card will be sent to your honoree acknowledging your thoughtful charitable gift. 

I wish you a loving and joyous winter season.

Warmly,

Saskia Epstein
Executive Director

We are so appreciative of Room to Grow's generous supporters who thoughtfully and creatively find ways to include Room to Grow in their celebrations with families and friends. 

Room to Grow has partnered with several generous companies this holiday season to offer an exciting auction, special retail promotions and events benefiting Room to Grow.

For more information and ideas about how you can help organize a holiday benefit, please contact Laura Shunney at 617.859.4545


Room to Grow Winter Auction
December 2 - 21st I 2009
http://roomtogrow.cmarket.com/
Auction items range from unique vacation getaways to wonderful local dining experiences and exclusive sporting experiences.  Please tell your friends, family and colleagues about our online auction.
 
   It's a great way to do holiday shopping while supporting a worthy cause!

Grazier Photography
December 1 - 25th I 2009
Grazier photography is providing Room to Grow with a donation of 10% of each $100 gift certificate purchased between now and December 25, 2009.   Over the past two years we have had the privilege of getting to know and benefiting from the generosity and talent of Enna and Matt Grazier (see photo above).  Both Enna and Matt have provided the gift of beautiful photographs to many of the families we work with. They recently exhibited some of these extraordinary photographs at Room to Grow's Fall Gala.  Click here to view photographs from the exhibit which also included three other photographers. 

The gift certificate is valid for one year, so recipients are welcome to use towards a portrait session during the warmer months!  Visit www.grazierphotography.com for more information.

Run My Errand
December 1 - 24th I 2009
For every errand run this holiday season, RunMyErrand will make a donation to Room to Grow. RunMyErrand is also offering Room to Grow's friends their first errand free* with the use of promo code HOLIDAYGROW. Visit www.runmyerrand.com for all the details.

During this hectic time of year, RunMyErrand gives you the gift of time by having trusted neighborhood runners do your shopping, shipping and running around. Post your to-do's now so you can spend your time doing the things that bring you joy. 

LivingSocial Deals
December 3 - 20th I 2009
LivingSocial Deals is running a "Twelve Days of Gifting" campaign, which will feature 12 different deals on great gift ideas for the holidays.  During the campaign, LivingSocial will be donating part of the proceeds to local nonprofits, and Room to Grow is one of the featured charities! Visit www.deals.livingsocial.com for more info.

Friends of Room to Grow Events
Fall and Winter  | 2009
Many friends of Room to Grow have already helped to raise awareness and much-needed support this season.  Earlier this fall we enjoyed an evening of fashion, food and philanthropy at Tahari and 10% of the evening's proceeds benefited Room to Grow.   In November, Room to Grow benefited from the raffle at the Mommies Who Shop event where 250 moms gathered for a girls night out.  Bob Dougherty of The Foundation Room, House of Blues shared his 40th birthday bash with Room to Grow at Lucky's Lounge.  In December, we exchanged holiday cheers with Forge Worldwide Communication and a fun crowd at Eastern Standard.  We look forward to many more December benefit events including Nicolette and Brett Henderson's Friends for Benefits event at Johnnies on the Side and a holiday party  that Lisa Baker along with her friends are hosting.  We are so thankful for their wonderful support.

Please consider asking friends and family to make a contribution to Room to Grow in lieu of a holiday or hostess gift this season. 

Maya, a young first time mother of Amy has been faced with immense challenges.  Amy was born with a severe seizure disorder and Maya soon became homeless after the birth.  Even while facing such challenging circumstances, Maya has maintained a positive spirit and spends each of her visits at Room to Grow highlighting her daughter's strengths and abilities rather than her delays and disabilities. She has remarkable insights into her own parenting and has used her time with her Room to Grow social worker to discuss how to abandon the style of parenting she herself grew up and instead offer only love and acceptance to her daughter  With an unwavering commitment to giving her daughter the best possible start in life, Maya is now caring for Amy  in their new home.

To hear directly from parents like Maya click here.

Jamie, a single mother was referred to Room to Grow when she was pregnant with her third child.  Her two older children were in the care of her mother because, in her own words, "I didn't know how to be a mother then.  I need to learn now so I can do this."  When her daughter, Shira, was two weeks old, the state's child protection agency opened a case on her family.  Jamie was discouraged about her ability to keep her family together but did not give up and worked hard to prove to the caseworker and herself that she be a good mother.  When at Room to Grow, Jamie is always eager to talk with her social worker about how to better her parenting skills. In just a year with Room to Grow, Jamie has grown tremendously as a parent.  With support from her Room to Grow social worker, she has learned how to encourage her daughter's physical and emotional development and worked to build a routine for her family including healthy rituals and behaviors for sleeping, eating, and playing. Jamie is very proud of how well  she and Shira, her one year old daughter are doing. The child protection agency recently closed the case on Jamie's family.  We are so pleased that Jamie is once again reunited with her other children and parenting all three with greater confidence and skill.

Mary and Jorge were only 16 years old and still in high school when they gave birth to their son Nicholas. They both moved in with Mary's parents to have greater support as they became parents themselves.  Mary and Jorge both attend appointments at Room to Grow where they discuss their own style of parenting while living with grandparents who are eager to help yet have different ways of doing things. Nicholas is now two and a half and in preschool.  Mary and Jorge both graduated from high school and Mary has started college.  She is a patient and kind mother and is so proud of her son who is already "a leader in his classroom."

Sponsor an expecting mother's first visit at Room to Grow and help her find the kind of support that has meant so much to these families.

Room to Grow Fall Gala
November 7  | 2009
Over 400 guests gathered to honor two wonderful families, Fredi and  Jack Shonkoff and a Room to Grow parent at the Boston Center for the Arts. The evening celebrated the extraordinary efforts of parents helping their babies thrive despite the challenges of poverty. The event raised nearly $400,000. Guests bid on over 120 silent and live auction lots including a VIP experience at the Telluride Film Festival, US Tennis Open court-side seats, and unique dining experiences with Chefs Michael Schlow, Dante de Magistris, Jody Adams and others. 
Magic Beans Stroller Drive
Fall  | 2009
Generous Magic Beans customers helped many Room to Grow families stay mobile this season! Magic Beans offered customers a discount off the purchase of new equipment and toys in exchange for donating a new or used stroller to Room to Grow. This wonderful locally-owned company was founded in 2004 by husband and wife team Eli and Sheri Gurock. Since Room to Grow's opening in Boston, Eli and Sheri Gurock have helped Magic Beans customers learn about the ways they can get involved in supporting us. Magic Beans has partnered with us on many events, donated hundreds of toys, made generous financial contributions and encouraged many of their loyal customers to volunteer at Room to Grow. We are so appreciative of the ongoing support of Magic Beans and are proud to be affiliated with this imaginative and industry-leading company.


      Click here to learn more about how you can organize a collection drive.