bb end of year appeal draft

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30 Laurel Street, 3 rd Floor Hartford, CT 06106-1362 December 1, 2016 Andrew Dixon xx Goodwin Circle Hartford, CT 6105 Dear Andrew, It’s been just over a week since Thanksgiving and its spirit of appreciation and caring. Won’t you consider extending that spirit by making a life-changing gift to a child in need? Please consider giving a child the gift of a great Big Brother or Big Sister this Holiday Season. More than 200 deserving children have this gift on their wish list right now – and you can help their wish come true. When you’re single and have small children, you may tend to overprotect them. That’s what Pedro’s mom Mariana feared she was doing. She kept Pedro and his sister locked inside their modest apartment – away from the dangers she imagined lurked just beyond the door in their East Hartford neighborhood. She knew she was keeping the children out of harm’s way. But, at the same time, she sensed she was preventing them from exploring, limiting them from experiencing all that life has to offer. She had heard about the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters community-based program from friends. She did some research, liked what she learned and signed up her son Pedro and his sister Brendaly for the program. They went through Nutmeg’s enrollment process, and both children were matched with mentors. Twelve-year-old Pedro was especially thrilled by his new Big Brother, Mark Neadle from South Windsor. Mark is the National Accounts Manager for Equifax. He’s the father of three grown children and has spent many years coaching youth sports. Mark loves children and takes pleasure in doing what he can to help them navigate life’s complexities and challenges.

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Page 1: BB End of Year Appeal Draft

30 Laurel Street, 3

rd Floor

Hartford, CT 06106-1362

December 1, 2016

Andrew Dixon

xx Goodwin Circle

Hartford, CT 6105

Dear Andrew,

It’s been just over a week since Thanksgiving and its spirit of appreciation and caring. Won’t you

consider extending that spirit by making a life-changing gift to a child in need?

Please consider giving a child the gift of a great Big Brother or Big Sister this Holiday Season. More

than 200 deserving children have this gift on their wish list right now – and you can help their wish

come true.

When you’re single and have small children, you may tend to overprotect them. That’s what Pedro’s

mom Mariana feared she was doing. She kept Pedro and his sister locked inside their modest apartment

– away from the dangers she imagined lurked just beyond the door in their East Hartford neighborhood.

She knew she was keeping the children out of

harm’s way. But, at the same time, she sensed she

was preventing them from exploring, limiting them

from experiencing all that life has to offer.

She had heard about the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big

Sisters community-based program from friends.

She did some research, liked what she learned and

signed up her son Pedro and his sister Brendaly for

the program. They went through Nutmeg’s

enrollment process, and both children were

matched with mentors.

Twelve-year-old Pedro was especially thrilled by his

new Big Brother, Mark Neadle from South Windsor.

Mark is the National Accounts Manager for Equifax.

He’s the father of three grown children and has

spent many years coaching youth sports. Mark loves children and takes pleasure in doing what he can to

help them navigate life’s complexities and challenges.

Page 2: BB End of Year Appeal Draft

30 Laurel Street, 3

rd Floor

Hartford, CT 06106-1362

“Even though I’m usually super busy, I get a kick out of

spending time with kids like Pedro,” says Mark. “In a

way, you can be a kid again yourself – doing things you

haven’t done for years, seeing things from a young

person’s perspective.”

“I love hanging out with Mark,” Pedro says. “There are

too many females at home. With Mark I can have some

guy time.”

“Pedro won’t tell you this,” Mark says, “but he’s a

generous little guy. Even though he likes spending time

with me one-on-one, he never objects when we

sometimes bring his sister Brendaly along with us.”

The “guy time” Pedro refers to covers a wide range of

activities. Mark and Pedro have been rock climbing at

Nomad’s in Manchester. They’ve gone to antique auto

shows. They’ve cheered on the Hartford Wolf Pack at

the XL Center. They’ve stopped by the local Dave & Busters to try their luck at the arcade games. Not

long ago, they toured an East Hartford firehouse and talked with the firefighters about the trucks and

other equipment – and about firefighting as a possible career.

“When I found out that Pedro was a big fan of animals,” Mark says, “we traveled up to Springfield to

check out the exotic and domestic animals at the Forest Park Zoo. Another time we went to the petting

zoo at Flaming Farm in Simsbury. But what seems to really make Pedro happy is when we visit the dog

park and he gets to interact with my 6-pound Chihuahua, Killer.”

In the relatively short time since they were matched, Mark and Pedro have been to a lot of places and

taken in a lot of things. But it doesn’t take all of that to make Pedro smile. What really moves Big

Brother Mark is when he offers Pedro a choice of activities and Pedro tells him that all he really wants

to do is just hang out and play together.

Little Brother Pedro and Big Brother Marks’ dog Killer

Page 3: BB End of Year Appeal Draft

30 Laurel Street, 3

rd Floor

Hartford, CT 06106-1362

“Pedro’s really such a sweet kid,” Mark says. “He’s not assuming at all. Whatever I can do to help him

fulfill his potential, I’m definitely willing to do.”

Mark Neadle is an energetic and resourceful Big

Brother. For other potential Big Brothers and Big

Sisters to get the training and support they’ll require

to help children the way Mark has, Nutmeg Big

Brothers Big Sisters needs funding to cover the costs

of background checks, pre-match training, on-going

match support and on-going mentor training.

With your donation, we can help so many children

awaiting our support achieve great things. I ask that

you please consider making a gift today on behalf

of a child in our community like Pedro, who needs

and deserves the helping hand of a mentor. Thank

you for your consideration – and best wishes for a

happy, healthy holiday season!

Sincerely,

Andy Fleischmann, President and CEO

P.S. Your support now can make all the difference to a child hoping to have a mentor this winter. Your

gift will help start changing the lives of children in need right away. If you haven’t given already, please

feel free [send in your gift today or] donate online at: www.nutmegbigbrothersbigsisters.org. Thank

you!

Big Brother Mark & Little Brother Pedro