Letter from the Executive Director
|
Thanks to your support and generosity, in 2013 Room to Grow celebrated the births of 101 new babies and provided support, guidance and a full supply of baby items to the parents of 386 babies, grateful for the opportunity to create success for their children that they did not have in their own lives.
Looking ahead, we are eager to provide the same chance at a brighter future to even greater numbers of babies whose parents desire, but have limited access to, parenting information, connections to community resources and material items that can have a positive impact on children's healthy growth and development.
We greatly appreciate your help in achieving this goal, and hope you will continue to partner with us by volunteering, donating baby goods, or making a financial donation.
Thank you for your support,
Robyn Carter
Executive Director
|
Client Spotlight
|
Alexa's family forced her to move out of their home after learning that she was pregnant in junior high. Feeling isolated, she moved to a shelter for teen mothers where she was introduced to Room to Grow. Alexa was grateful to speak with a social worker about her living situation and to receive non-judgmental parenting support, information about child development, and material resources for her unborn son, Andrew.
Alexa brought Andrew to Room to Grow every three months and spoke with their social worker about the challenges of living in a shelter and the pain caused by the separation from her parents. She used these appointments to learn about child nutrition, sleep schedules, positive discipline techniques, and the importance of playing with and reading to her child. The support Alexa received at Room to Grow enabled her to ensure that Andrew thrived.
By the time they graduated from Room to Grow's three-year program, Alexa had achieved a high school diploma, obtained her own apartment and was enrolled in college classes. After an emotional reunification with her parents, and with Andrew's cognitive, physical and verbal milestones on track, her parents were able to see what a good mother their daughter had become. Room to Grow is honored to support wonderful mothers like Alexa!
|
Recent and Upcoming Events
|
Room to Grow's Annual Shoe DriveFebruary | 2014
We are collecting new and gently used shoes and socks for nearly 400 infants and toddlers enrolled in Room to Grow's program. Please donate sneakers, play shoes and boots in infant/toddler sizes 0-10. Winter boots in boys' sizes 3-8 and girls' sizes 8-9, and boys' sneakers in size 8 are most urgently needed. Email jen@roomtogrow.org or click here to find out how you can help put quality footwear on babies in poverty learning to walk, run and jump!
Bowl for Babies with the Young Professionals Council
March 13 | 2014
Join Room to Grow's Young Professionals Council March 13th from 6-8 p.m. at Jillian's Boston for bowling, networking and fun -- all to support Room to Grow's mission to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. Tickets are $20 per person and include 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental and food! Enjoy games and special prizes throughout the evening. To register click here or email Shannon at shannon@roomtogrow.org for more information.
Oh Baby! Fitness Classes
Room to Grow is proud to be a new location partner for Oh Baby! Fitness. Mom & Baby Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga classes are now offered on Thursday evenings in our program space. Class participants are encouraged to bring new and nearly new baby essentials to donate to Room to Grow families. Oh Baby! Fitness, the former fitness partner for Isis Parenting, offers prenatal, and mom and baby exercise classes designed to give new and expectant moms a place to find support, get fit and bond with their babies. For class times, prices and to register, please click here to visit their website.
Fall Gala
November 16 | 2013
Room to Grow's 2013 Fall Gala raised over $500,000 in critical funds to help Room to Grow support babies in poverty. Thank you to all sponsors, volunteers and guests who joined us for the festive celebration. Please click here to view photos courtesy of Leo Gozbekian Photography and David Greenstein.
|
Donor Spotlight: Steve and Krista Alperin
|
Steve and Krista Alperin have been devoted supporters of Room to Grow since 2008. Their contributions have included offering input in our strategic planning process, generous financial support, donating toys and baby items and facilitating a partnership with Discovery Toys. Their volunteer efforts have often involved their children who have embraced their parents' commitment to social responsibility and now seek out their own ways to make a difference in their community.
Steve and Krista co-chaired the 2012 Fall Gala, facilitating many sponsorships, donations and auction items. Their leadership helped Room to Grow achieve its goals, with over 500 guests in attendance and nearly half a million dollars raised. This couple's humble, straightforward, and gracious manner leaves an impression on all who have the opportunity to interact with them. Most importantly, Steve and Krista have played a critical role in the organization's growth and success, year after year.
On behalf of hundreds of babies and their families, whose lives have been enriched through Room to Grow with your help, we thank you!
|
Call to Action
| |
 Support the Inventory Program
Like many of you, Room to Grow was saddened to learn of Isis Parenting's closing, and concerned to lose a valuable partner in the community. The partnership between Room to Grow and Isis Parenting produced more than 30% of the inventory our program distributes to families in need, and now we need to fill the void! Please send suggestions of businesses that may be interested in partnering with Room to Grow. Contact us for information about hosting a collection drive in your neighborhood, school or office, or click here for a list of our urgent needs.
Volunteer
To meet the needs of our growing client program, we will need more volunteer help than ever! Introduce Room to Grow to your friends and colleagues by scheduling a group event in our Boston office. The work of volunteers is crucial to our client program and we are in constant need of help. Call 617.859.4545 or email Jen Teague at jen@roomtogrow.org to schedule an event today!
Celebrate Friends and Family with a Financial Gift to Room to Grow
This year please consider making a tribute gift in honor of someone special in your life. Each honoree will receive a letter informing them that a donation has been made on their behalf. This is a great way to recognize a wedding, birth or other special event. We can help you create personalized giving pages for celebrating any occasion and, in lieu of gifts, friends and family can make a donation to Room to Grow. For more information please contact Shannon at shannon@roomtogrow.org or click here to make a gift today.
|
Save the Date!
| 
Thursday, May 8 | 2014
Mother's Day Breakfast
The Langham Boston
Join us Thursday, May 8th at 8 a.m. for Room to Grow's fifth annual Mother's Day Breakfast celebrating inspirational women in our community and honoring the remarkable mothers enrolled in our program. This year's event, co-chaired by well-known leader and philanthropist, Bithiah Carter, and Steward Health Care spokesperson, Brooke Thurston, will raise critical funds to support our program and feature a morning of comedy to start your day with a smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
