Dear Buddy Program Friends and Family,
As many of you know, I will be leaving the Buddy Program at the end of this month to take the position of President for the Pillars4Life Foundation, the global expansion of our local non-profit Pathfinders for Cancer, dedicated to improving the quality-of-life of patients with cancer and other chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
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Catherine Anne at the 2011 Bash for the Buddies
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Working with you as Executive Director of the Buddy Program has been the most satisfying and rewarding experience of my professional life. When I began in this position almost 7 years ago, there were 280 youth being served through the Buddy Program. Today, there are over 650 local young people who benefit from our programs. What we have accomplished together!
As a team, we have successfully implemented Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in Aspen, Basalt and Carbondale schools, and we have incorporated the important experiential learning model into our Group Mentoring programs for high school students from Aspen through Parachute. And we achieved all of these advancements for our local youth during the "great recession."
Our successes have depended on the extraordinary talents and commitment of so many - our amazing staff, committed Board of Directors and National Council, dedicated Big Buddies, extraordinary parents, teachers and school leaders, and the unfailing loyalty from the community we serve and our many supporters. I thank you all for your passion and your commitment in building the Buddy Program to our current position of strength and trust that you will continue to stand by the children we serve, as you always have.
The Board has appointed Lindsay Lofaro, Program Director, to serve as acting Executive Director until a new Executive Director is installed. The Board has already convened a search committee and they hope to select a new Executive Director soon.
It is sad to think of not being involved directly with the Buddy Program, but I will always be deeply committed to this great organization, its mission and the families, volunteers and donors who make it work, and the children who have indelibly touched my heart.
I leave in the knowledge that the Buddy Program has a highly talented staff and an incredible network of supporters to carry on the mission: to strengthen our community by guiding and inspiring youth through mentoring. I am confident that the foundations upon which the Buddy Program has been built over 39 years will continue to cause this organization to grow, prosper, and serve deserving youth in our community.
It has been a great pleasure to be part of this very special organization. Thank you for the opportunity.
With respect and gratitude,
Catherine Anne Provine
Wait List Little Buddy:
The Buddy Program, along with Family Visitor Programs, Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers, Kids First and Youth Zone, received a grant from El Pomar to work together to use media and on-line resources to get the word out about parenting tips and techniques in Pitkin County. "Like" the 
