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| Spring brings forth a salute to our military mentors and ushers in April, which is the month of the military child! | |
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| Updates from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, NY |
March 2010 | |
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Greetings!
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Mentoring youth in need has been the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America since our founding over 100 years ago. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Military Mentoring Program responds to the needs of children in military families and continues our mentoring mission in their community by addressing the stresses which military life and deployed parents can bring into the lives of children.
Members of the Armed Services and Reserve Unit Members, both male and female, are being deployed to distant lands for long periods of time, disrupting family life and causing stressful times for the adults and children in the family. The effects on families and on children have often been overwhelming. Today, extended family members as well as mothers or fathers are asked to serve as caregivers for dependent children of deployed servicemen and servicewomen.
At the same time there are military personnel and civilians who would like to reach out to these youth and give them a hand. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has joined forces with the TB Boone Pickens Foundation to help reach out to address the needs of these children who face the anxiety and separation from a parent by matching them with a caring adult from the local or military community.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County has been awarded a continuation grant to us to further develop our military partnership and reach out to children of deployed parents. Military Mentoring in one form or another has been a part of a significant number of Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies for years, and in some cases, decades. In Orange County, West Point Cadets have mentored our children since 1978. They now participate in both Post-based and School-based mentoring programs in Highland Falls.
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A Military Mentoring grant from the TB Boone Pickens Foundation has been awarded for the second year, helping us to form a collaborating partnership with 105th Air National Guard Air Life Wing Unit and the Marine Mag 49 Unit at Stewart and reach out to veteran and ROTC groups. This funding will help to recruit more military mentors and reach the families of deployed children so that we can support their needs until they are reunited with their family member serving our country.
At the same time there are military personnel and civilians who would like to reach out to these youth and give them a hand. Recent research by Civic Enterprises has found that 90% of veterans want to serve other veterans and military families and 86% want to serve at-risk youth. By using the recourses allotted to us by these grants, we will be able continue to improve the lives of many of those in our local military community. |
Shake, Rattle and BOWL!
Still want to become involved with our biggest and most fun event of the year? Sign up a Bowl For Kids' Sake team now at www.mentorachild.org/bfks because you won't want to miss out! This fundraising effort is crucial for us to continue assisting mentors to provide their invaluable service. Every dollar that is donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters is used to keep our programs up and running. Donations are used for background checks, match support, recruitment, promoting mentoring in Orange County, trips, and keeping our office open. Simply put, we run on mentors and money. That's why it's so important that you help us spread the word about our BIGGEST fundraiser of the year, Bowl For Kids' Sake.
To thank you, our fundraiser is a fun-filled day of food, family, and bowling! You can join in on the party by starting a team, asking your company to become a sponsor. If you can't make it on March 28th, you can still help by raising $5, $10, $15 or more towards the big event. To collect pledges online, simply go to www.mentorachild.org/bfks and register. Or call Carolyn at (845) 562-5900 to ask how you can get involved!
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| A West Point Garrison Commander's Reflection on Mentoring
I have been affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters since 1978 when I was a student at Notre Dame. It was at that time that Kevin and I became brothers. He was 8 and I was 18, and as fate would have it, we were born on the same day. Through three plus years of shared birthday celebrations, penny hockey at McDonalds, Notre Dame football games (the "glory years"), and hanging out with the guys in the dorm, we forged a relationship that has transcended the years. We lost contact for a while through multiple military moves, but somehow reconnected at a defining time in both of our lives ... the Persian Gulf War. Kevin and I were both deployed in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was a Marine and I was a Soldier -- Veterans like our Dads, his from Viet Nam, and mine from WWII. We shared a couple letters of support, and once again, time, distance, families, and careers got the better of us and we lost touch. Last year, I received a call from Army Public Affairs informing me that a gentlemen by the name of Kevin was attempting to reestablish contact with me. I immediately called him and caught up with stories about our children and our lives. Kevin is now a disabled vet and the bonds of brotherhood, service and sacrifice reconnected us. We now talk about once a week... like we were brothers. |
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Give
Today! |
In order to provide services to the children of Orange County, we count on support from individuals like you. Any amount that you can give will help fill in the gaps, and provide some relief from the financial crunch we are all feeling. This month, we are encouraging donors to support Bowl For Kids' Sake, our event on March 28th! |
| Thank you for your kind consideration of Big Brothers Big Sisters. | | |
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BIG Thanks...
We recently received gracious donations from:
IBM Hearts and Hands Together Program Donors:
Daniel Ziegler
Linda Cantwell
Lorraine Yorke
Jill Gilbert
Daniel Grazier
John Zupetz
Tiffany and Company, for a 150% employee match
Terence and Stephanie Yungman, in memory of
Laura Knibbs
The West Point Department of Social Sciences Activities Fund, proceeds from their annual chili cookoff
The McGroddy Family Foundation
Donald Ditter and Debra Sokota
Andrew Gallo
And thank you to all the Bowl For Kids' Sake Participants and Donors, including our "superstar fundraisers"
Bob Demarco
Phylis Rubnitz
Meaghan Doulin
look for a complete list of supporters after the event, and get yourself involved by going to mentorachild.org/bfks!
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In Memory Of Laura Knibbs
The recent passing of Laura Knibbs (beloved wife of Big Brother Dave) marks the loss of a devoted woman and Big Sister.
Much can be said about Laura's loving and nurturing characteristics and the difference she made in her Little Brother CJ's life. She offered encouragement and a listening ear and CJ will surely have a richer life for having shared time with Laura.
Let's remember to live each day with wonder and gratitude, for beauty surrounds us. Let's also remember to share our abundance generously (as Laura did) because surely this will ensure future blessings for us all.
We at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County will miss this kind, giving woman and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Big Brother Dave and his extended family as well as CJ and his family. |
Our Programs are supported by:
Recycle your old car here!
Public Contributions & Support of Our Special Events
United Way of Orange County
NYS Offices of Children & Family Services through Orange County Youth Bureau
New York's Children of Promise, United State Department of Health & Human Services 
Oblong Books & Music, our Constant Contact Cares4Kids Sponsor
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Limited Time Offer!
From March 18-21 you can use this coupon at Gap, Banana Republic or Old Navy for 30% off your purchase, and 5% of it will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters! (But only if you use the copuon, so don't miss out!) |
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Quick Links
For more information about mentoring go to:
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| Contact Information |
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County
(845) 562-5900 & (845) 342-3939
Nancy Kosloski, Executive Director, x28
Julie Woodward, Program Director, x39
Carolyn Bennett, Director of Resource Development, x32
Our Board of Directors:
Anthony Gillmeier, President
Mary Verdegaal, Vice President
Linda Dederick, Secretary
Wayne Martin, Treasurer
Terry Booth
Sheila McGroddy
Major Timothy Gatlin
Joseph Coleman
Leonard Bakker |
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