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| June 2010
Time to celebrate all the good works done by our kids this year! |
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| Updates from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, NY | June 2010 |
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Greetings!
 Do you ever feel like you hear too much bad news, and not enough about the excellent things? This month, we want to tell you about the outstanding, shining moments that Orange County youth have delivered. From the Youth Bureau awards to the Life Choices and Hispanic Mentoring Initiative Fashion Show, this has been a year of new experiences and positive learning for the kids in our programs, topped off with a full graduation ceremony that we'll tell you all about below! |
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 Youth Bureau Awards
Every year, the Orange County Youth Bureau awards celebrate the good works of Orange County Youth, and those who work with them. The award categories are Positive Change Leading to Success, Spirit of Success, and Outstanding Citizenship / Volunteerism / Leadership. Many of our volunteers, youth, business partners and one of our staff were honored at this year's luncheon including: Youth Recipients
Nigel Edwards: Certificate of Honor, Outstanding Leadership/Volunteerism/Citizenship - Grades 9-12
Yaritza Dubon: First Place, Outstanding Leadership/Volunteerism/Citizenship - Grades 9-12
Xavier Webb: First Place, Positive Change Leading to Success - Grades 2-8
Alice Young: Certificate of Honor, Positive Change Leading to Success - Grades 9-12 Adult Recipients
Brian Manning: Owner of Pizza Mia, Asset Builder/Outstanding Business Community Partner
Paul Saladino, LMSW: School Social Worker, Asset Builder/Outstanding School Based Professional
Eric Hoffman: School Based Big Brother, Betty Jane Polanis - Asset Builder/Adult Volunteer
Maribel Rosario: Mentoring Manager Big Brothers Big Sisters, Asset Builder/Outstanding Youth Worker
Anthony Breit: Betty Jane Polanis - Asset Builder/Adult Volunteer
Congratulations, and thank you for your service! |
The Bigs and Littles Digest
The following are stories of some of the recent adventures of our Bigs and Littles that they've shared with us. We invite all mentors to share a story (and photos!) for future newsletters by contacting your mentor manager, sending an email to Carolyn, or by posting it on our Facebook page. Enjoy!  ~ Big Sister E. and Little Brother E. shared a double rainbow. They both agreed it was a very good sign.
~ Big Sister Ann and Little Sister Kelsea celebrated their 3-year anniversary by attending a live performance of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at the Lyceum Theatre in Sugarloaf. They liked that it was performed simultaneously in American Sign Language.
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Taharyn and Eric truly enjoy being together. Taharyn worked very hard to put a sentence together that he felt could express his thoughts and said that their meeting time "makes me feel good inside - the best it can be inside." Eric has also expressed to me that he loves the match and that "it's better than I imagined, and I expected it to be really great."
 ~ Jaddon says that the best part of his week is when he hears his Big Brother Anthony arrive at his house to get him! They just finished up the Little League season and both learned a lot! Anthony will be traveling for a bit so before he leaves it will be another "first" for Jaddon when they hit Great Adventure for a screaming good time on the roller coasters!
Stories from the Middletown School-Based Matches...
~ One of our Bigs has stayed with his Little for two years in the school-based program. Even when his job near the school ended in December, he has committed to making the trip every week see his little. He picks up pizza for the two of them on his way to the school, and the Little has suggested the Big get a job at the pizza place in so they can still see each other.
  ~Little Sister Eva says that "the most fun thing I remember doing all year is the dance party." I asked her to elaborate, and she said that after she and her Big eat lunch sometimes, they listen to the Big's music from her cell phone. Each one takes turns flipping the lights on and off to create a lite-show while the other shows off their best dance moves.
Many of our school-based matches have now ended for the year, but most will be returning in the fall to pick up where they left off. Thanks to the good spirit of Middletown business partners like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and the Orange County Youth Bureau, we are able to match mentors with students every year. If you or your business would like to be a part of a school-based mentoring program, NOW is the time to sign up to volunteer at one our our school partners next year!
Mentoring is about the little things - sharing new interests and teaching news skills. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to open up their world to a friend. |
| Graduation
The youth enrolled in our Life Choices, Moving Forward and Hispanic Mentoring Initiative programs have had quite a year! From learning about how to stay safe from gangs to learning about growing up, the young adults in these programs have worked on building their confidence, self-
Hispanic Mentoring Initiative graduates | knowledge and developed skills to resist negative peer pressure. Over 120 friends and family came by the Newburgh Rec Center to wish our 35 graduates well as they move forward.
Moving Forward students from Temple Hill |
Life Choices Graduates | |
| The Anual Fashion Show
Last month, members of the Life Choices club strutted their stuff down the runway as part of the annual fashion show at the Newburgh Mall. The clothes were supplied by DEB, and hair was done by Corinthian Salon and makeup was done by Ellen Winchell, formerly of Mary Kay. Party Time productions and Big Brother Patrick Flynn DJ'd. We put on the Fashion show each year to help the girls boost their self-esteem, confidence and positive body image.
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Events Calendar
Big Brothers Big Sisters Night at The Orange County Fair Speedway!
On Saturday, June 26, at 6:00 all active Bigs and Littles are invited to enjoy Big Brother Big Sister Night at The Orange County Fair Speedway!
For more information and to reserve a ticket, please call 845-562-5900. |
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BIG Thanks...
Chevy Poidomani for a donation of a sofa and a love seat for one of our families
There was great support from other local agencies who came to our graduation ceremony!
Maternal Infant Services Network
Planned Parenthood of the mid-Hudson Valley
Safe Homes of Orange County
Thank you to Loughran's Irish Pub for catering services
And a Big Thank You to Adams Fairacre Farms for donating a cake in celebration of our graduates!
Bath and Body Works, who donated gift packs to the graduates
The New York Giants, for their donation of hats to the graduates |
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YLSC Blood Drive 
Save the Date!
On Friday, July 30, the YLSC (Youth Leadership Servies Council) will be hosting a blood drive. Come join us and help save a life! |
"Fore" The Kids
 Monday, August 30th is the date of our second annual "Fore" The Kids Golf Tournament at the pristine West Point Golf Course.
For more information about registration and sponsorships, please visit our golf outing website or call (845) 562-5900 |
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 States Department of Health & Human Services 
Oblong Books & Music, our Constant Contact Cares4Kids Sponsor
visit them at
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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, and keep mentoring alive for our children. | | Thank you for your kind consideration of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
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Quick Links
For more information about mentoring go to:
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| Contact Information | |
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 J. Bakker |
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