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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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As I near the end of my first year at Room to Grow, it gives me great pride to reflect upon what Room to Grow is building in families every day - confident parents, able learners, and the sense of security that every baby deserves. With your help, we now annually serve over 350 babies in poverty, providing their families with parenting support, information and essential material items to have a positive and lasting impact on each child's first three years of development, which research correlates to future success.
However, pride is also tempered with concern that thousands of babies are born into poverty in Boston each year, and their opportunity for a bright future is severely limited by economic hardship.
Through your generosity of time, financial and in-kind resources, you have made it possible for Room to Grow to provide a unique model of service to more babies this year than ever! We will continue to depend on your support as we build even greater capacity to meet the needs of more families directly impacted by the crippling effects of poverty.
Please consider making a financial gift to Room to Grow in time for the holidays. Your generosity today directly impacts our ability to build a better tomorrow for babies in our community.
With gratitude for your support,
Robyn Carter
Executive Director
 
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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: Lending Parents a Helping Hand
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Shawna was born and raised in Boston, and joined Room to Grow on the heels of escaping an abusive relationship with her long-time boyfriend and father of her children. She and her two older sons had been through a very difficult few years due to the violence in their home. With the decision to flee to safety and a baby girl on the way, she had few options but to move into a shelter with her children.
Shawna was extremely open to receiving support from Susan, her Room to Grow social worker, and expressed a great desire for parenting information and resources to provide her unborn daughter with a good start, while caring for her two sons. Shawna had been financially dependent on her partner and had no means to obtain clothing and supplies for her new baby, Annabel. Room to Grow provided her with all of the essential items she needed to create a safe and enriching environment for her new addition. With Room to Grow's support, Shawna found the courage to move into her own apartment, but the transition was more difficult for Annabel than Shawna ever imagined, causing both mother and daughter many sleepless nights together. Shawna was soon exhausted and overwhelmed. During her quarterly visits to Room to Grow, Shawna learned new parenting techniques including soothing Annabel and creating a sleep routine. Soon Annabel was falling asleep on her own and sleeping through the night.
Annabel just turned three and she and Shawna have graduated from Room to Grow. They now live safely in their own home. She has a full time job in the medical field and Annabel is ready to start preschool. Shawna is so in love with her daughter and grateful for their harmonious relationship. Room to Grow's support of Shawna has equipped her with the tools and resources to provide a safe and secure environment for her family.
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| DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Dorel Juvenile Group |
This fall, Room to Grow received a generous donation from Dorel Juvenile Group of 80 strollers, 100 high chairs, dozens of training potties, swings, bouncy chairs, safety gates and other safety and hygiene supplies for the families enrolled in our program. The gift of these items will affect the lives of nearly every child we serve. Dorel Juvenile Group, the maker of Cosco Juvenile, Safety 1st, Maxi-Cosi, Quinny and Hoppop products, is dedicated to providing a safer world for children, and devoted to helping Room to Grow enrich the lives of babies born into poverty.
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| RECENT HAPPENINGS |
September 25 | 2012
Blue Cross of Blue Shield of MA Volunteer Day and Book Drive
Nearly 70 enthusiastic employees from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts volunteered at Room to Grow in September to build a new library for our families as part of the company's service day. We can not thank them enough for counting, sorting and shelving thousands of new books collected from our Back to School Book Drive. Books are now categorized by themes such as shapes, counting, animals and things on the move.
October 5 | 2012
Michael De Paulo Fashion Event
Over 200 guests filled The Liberty Hotel for one of the final events of Boston Fashion Week, designer Michael De Paulo's preview of his Spring 2013 line. Linda Pizzuti Henry hosted the affair and event attendees generously contributed nearly $2,000 to Room to Grow.
October 28 | 2012
Pru Boo
Hundreds of children dressed up for Halloween to trick or treat during Pru Boo at the Shops at the Prudential Center. It was a sweet event, with lots of Halloween treats and raising more than $5,000 for Room to Grow.
October 6-13 | 2012
Toy for Toy Drive
Melissa & Doug donated hundreds of its innovative toys to Room to Grow as the result of a Toy for Toy matching gift program at Learning Express toy stores nationwide. The Learning Express was also extremely generous to Room to Grow this year, recently donating more than 350 educational toys to help families celebrate the holidays.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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 December 7 | 2012
Room to Grow Fall Gala
The Westin Copley Place
We are thrilled to host our sold out Fall Gala tonight! It will be a festive evening with an exciting auction and an inspirational program honoring Tamara Santiago, a mother graduating from the Room to Grow program, and Paul Grogan of the Boston Foundation. This event is Room to Grow's major fundraiser to raise critical support for our Boston program. Please help us meet our goals and consider making a donation if you are unable to join us. We are grateful for the support of an exceptional committee of dedicated volunteers, our event chairs, sponsors and auction donors.
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