Bignews

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie CountyBe-A-Friend Program, Inc.

Helping children reach their potential through professionally supported mentoring relationships.

Winter 2009 | vol. 38 #2

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Board of Directors

David Hore - PCB Group, Inc. Kevin Paris - ProScan Imaging Vincent Mitchell - V.F. Mitchell Agency Marie McCrea - David’s Bridal Mark McNamara - Hiscock & Barclay Rich Jureller - Buffalo SabresDavid Resetarits - Resetarits ConstructionJoseph Marusak - Paul William Beltz, PCChristopher Hill - Buffalo Bisons Alan Korman - Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.Gust Pullman - Damon & Morey, LLPMark Ferm - Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLPBrian Murphy - Lawley Benefits GroupKenneth A. Richmond - Erie County Medical CenterEdward Jackson – Community Action Organization of Erie

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NewsletterFounder & CEO - Robert F. Moss Newsletter Editor - Alicia BartschDesign - Kristopher Miller

Cover Photo by: Erica Eichelkraut Photographywww.eephotobuffalo.com

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie CountyBe-A-Friend Program, Inc.85 River Rock Drive, Suite 107Buffalo, New York 14207ph: (716) 873.5833fax: (716) 873.6350url: www.beafriend.orge: info@beafriend.org

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The following staff members celebrated mile-stones as employees of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County from January 1, 2009 – December 3, 2009. Congratulations!

38 Years - Robert F. Moss

20 Years - Camille Sinatra

15 Years - Renee Gracie

14 Years - Alicia Bartsch

7 Years - Thomas Kirst

4 Years - Amy Gallaway

3 Years - Maureen Kelly, Melissa Mowrey

2 Years - Kelly Giallella, Tami Helfer, Lisa KurtSheila McCrea, Erin Moss, Lisa Ryan

1 Year - Will Murphy, LaGuan Rodgers

Support from individuals like you is vital to provide mentors for children in our community. And we know they need them. It isn’t easy being a kid these days. In these complex and confusing times, children need a caring adult to be a mentor and a friend — someone they can talk to, have fun with, and learn from.

If you would like to make a gift of any kind, please visit our donation page at www.beafriend.org or contact our Development office at (716) 844-2029.

Donations

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

A Note from our C.E.O.I often think about the kids that have passed through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County in our 38+ years. I wonder how they are doing and the impact we had on their life choices. We know so much about how our program impacts children as they are actively involved through our outcome evaluations. And along the way we’ve had letters, cards, calls and even former Littles that have become Bigs. But on a larger scale, what really happens when our Littles become adults?

It appears our national organization was having the same thought. Last spring, a study conducted by Harris Interactive® on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America discovered adults mentored as children through Big Brothers Big Sisters are more likely than peers with similar backgrounds, but who were not involved in the program, to have a four-year college degree and stronger relationships with their spouses, children and friends. Findings also show a connection with breaking the cycle of poverty, based on reports of higher income levels among the adults that had a Big Brother or Big Sister mentor.

I found this news very exciting. We know the positive impact a mentoring relationship can have. However, to see statistical evidence is significant. With high dropout rates in our own community, it’s more important than ever that as a community we provide services to help kids complete school and have the social skills necessary to enter college or the workforce. Big Brothers Big Sisters can be an important piece in the puzzle when creating a plan to help at-risk youth succeed. This study is just another way to demonstrate to individuals, foundations, and corporations that there is a long-term value to Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs!

Robert F. MossFounder & C.E.O.

County

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As a recently hired Case Manager, it has been thrilling to meet the amazing volunteers and children that I will be working with on a daily basis. I always take great care in learning their individual interests and helping make sure their matches go smoothly. One particular match came along recently that I was able to easily relate to in a specific way. Before I began working for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I was a competitive horseback rider for over 13 years. Naturally when I heard of Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership with the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center who provide children in the program the opportunity to learn how to ride, I was very excited.

Before long, I had the opportunity to take one of the girls on my caseload to her lesson. We joked, before I went to pick her up, about how I was probably more excited than she was. I had been looking forward to it all week, and I wasn’t even riding!

This particular girl, 9-year-old Little Sister Deneilia, is very special. Before picking Deneilia up for her lesson, I was informed by her Big Sister Cheryl that Deneilia had done so well in her first four-week session with the BTRC that they had requested that she come back for the following session. They felt she had so much natural talent that she absolutely needed to move forward with her training. Deneilia was the first rider that this had ever happened with in the history of Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship with the BTRC!

When I picked Deneilia up that day for her lesson, we spoke about her riding experience and she told me all

about her time at the BTRC. She was able to tell me how to groom a horse and how they had done all kinds of fun riding activities with her.

When we arrived at the BTRC, everyone was so welcoming to Deneilia and very excited to see her. Deneilia had done so well, that they had graduated her up to private lessons! Deneilia was thrilled, and I was unbelievably thankful that she was being given this generous opportunity. Her riding instructor was very proud to tell me that Deneilia has been their little star.

tid-bitby: Katie Head

Please join us in wishing the Community Foundation a very happy 90th birthday.

Big Brother Ayodeji Kuponiyi and his Little Brother Damion enjoy their first-ever Buffalo Bills game. A special thanks to all of our ticket donors who make great memories like this possible!

© Erica Eichelkraut Photography

Kristen and AmarMatch Highlight

We always hope to share those special milestones in our lives with our loved ones. It’s an important part of these celebrations to have our family and friends there supporting and cheering us on. For Big Sister Kristen Luppino-Gholston, that meant having her Little Brother Amar not only present at her wedding, but a participant in her special day.

Kristen decided to become a Big Sister after finishing her master’s degree in social work and finding herself with the free time necessary to make the commitment. More than anything, Kristen simply wanted to lend a hand to any child who needed it. She shared, “I remember being surprised that I could choose the situation and child I preferred. My thinking was whoever needs a Big Sister, that’s where I want to help. I did not have preferences. I just figured whoever you gave me, that’s where I should be.”

Kristen is certainly right where she should be with Little Brother Amar. The two have been matched for more than three years! They enjoy going to movies, the museum, playing pool, ice skating, going to the park and taking advantage of opportunities through Big Brothers Big Sisters. With his Big Sister by his side, Amar has experienced his first baseball game and golf! However, often their activities are as simple as cooking dinner at Kristen’s house and watching a movie. Their favorite meal to make together is Chicken Caesar salad and according to Kristen, they’ve seen the movie The Sandlot, over and over again!

Little Brother Amar has also become a part of Kristen’s family and is included in family gatherings. When asked about this, Amar was excited to share, “We go to her parent’s house. They have a golf course in their backyard!” Amar also expressed having a great time with Kristen’s family including the new friends he’s found in Kristen’s nephews and niece. When discussing Amar’s relationship with her family, Kristen explained, “Amar is great around people. He just fits right in.”

Big Sister Kristen has also become an important figure in Amar’s family. During their friendship, Amar has experienced the significant loss of both his mother and grandmother. Like a real sister and friend, Kristen has been instrumental throughout these changes by helping both Amar and his

family cope with such difficult losses. In a conversation with Amar’s Aunt Caroline she continuously stressed how caring and devoted Kristen was as Amar adjusted to moving to a new home. “Kristen always goes above and beyond and treats us all like family” said Caroline, “I couldn’t have asked for a better Big Sister for Amar.”

Additionally, Caroline and Amar’s cousin Tamara have noticed many positive changes. “Amar is more outgoing now. He embraces Kristen as his friend and looks up to her. He really loves her,” says Tamara. Big Sister Kristen has also noticed changes in Amar as their friendship has evolved. She noted that she has watched him grow more

confident and with that, his social skills and relationships with peers are much better.

One can see, that with such a great friendship between these two, it only made sense that Amar be a part of his Big Sister Kristen’s special day. When asked why she decided to include Amar, Kristen replied, “It was just a given. He is an important part of my life.” Kristen and Amar even enjoy joking with her husband Kenny, who has also become a positive part of Amar’s life, that she has known Amar longer than him! When asked about his reaction to being a part of the wedding, Amar shyly shared, “It felt really good. I was excited.” Of course prior to the wedding, there are tasks for any wedding party member. Amar, who loves to dress up, was truly looking forward

to wearing a tuxedo on the big day. Kristen shared on the morning she picked Amar up for his fitting, he was waiting anxiously by the front door. On the day of the wedding, Amar was ready to be a part of the day’s festivities. He was included in photographs with Kristen’s family and was even mentioned by Kristen’s sister in the toast!

Kristen and Amar have truly become family. “I don’t think of it as Big Brothers Big Sisters anymore. I don’t see it as volunteer service. Amar is just a part of my life and always will be.” Even with a new husband, a busy career and her community involvement Kristen says, “It is just a given that Amar is in that mix. I can’t imagine him not being a part of it!” Little Brother Amar seconds that sentiment. When asked how long he and Kristen will be friends, he exclaimed, “I know we’ll be friends for a long time!”

© Wendy Mitchell Photography

This story shared by Little Sister Jernisa about her relationship with Big Sister Julie Fronckowiak.

Big Brother and Big Sister is a good program. My name is Jernisa and I have a Big Sister named Julie. I like this program because I have someone who can be my friend, talk to, go places with and have fun. I will tell you the places that me and Julie went to. The best of all is Niagara Falls. We went on March 22nd.

Me and Julie met at my house. Julie took me to Niagara Falls. She brought her friend Joe. He’s cool. We all went to go and see the Falls. The Falls were so beautiful…like a flower blooming. We took lots of pictures.

Also, Julie took me to the Aquarium in Niagara Falls. We were watching the beautiful fishes. There were so many. Also we watched the seals and the big seal was named Julie just like my big sister. That was very funny. We took pictures. We had a blast like a volcano erupting.

Julie’s mom Gerri, had a garage sale where she lives and Julie decided to bring me. The garage sale was fun. It had lots of nice glass stuff and old items. Gerri has a beautiful house in East Aurora by the village. We went to Vidler’s 5&10. With our profits from the garage sale we went out to lunch.

We are lucky enough to be taking horseback riding lessons. I am taking 4 lessons and becoming less afraid every time we

go. The horses that I have ridden are named Wasabi and Oz. I also learn commands for the horses and how to groom and measure the height of each horse.

It is good to have a big sister like Julie. She is so fun. We have a lot of things in common. We are both tall, we love hamburgers, we both love animals and we both like to read. I am trying to teach Julie how to bake. All you kids out there should get a big brother or big sister!

Now to answer the question, “What do Over 120 Golfers, 200 Bowlers and 250 Baseball Fans have in common?”

It is through the generous support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County’s special events; Fore the Children Golf Tournament, Bowl of Kids Sake and Night at the Ballpark that we are able to provide the support needed to ensure that the friendships like the one Little Sister Jernisa shares with her Big Sisters Julie, are realized by other children.

Our 2009 events were made possible through the generous support of our lead sponsors:

Buffalo Bisons, Capital Management, PCB Piezotronics, Parkview Health Services, Try-It Distributing and Voelkers Bowling Lanes.

Additionally, thank you to all those who attended and supported these events!

What do over 120 Golfers, 200 Bowlers and 250 Baseball Fans have in common?

!HAPPY ANNIVERSARY The following matches celebrated milestones in their friendships between January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009. Congratulations!1 Year

BS Chaitali Armstrong & LS JaylaBB Eddie Asbie III & LB ShamelBS Lysa Baker & LS AlyssaBS Brianna Bartus & LS BriannaBB Daniel Beicke & BB BryceBB Douglas Beltran & LB ManuelBS Lynn Benaglio & LS DrusillaBS Caitlin Bittner & LS PreciousBB Joseph Bressler & BB ShaquilleBB Mark Bratcher & LB DarquaneBS Amy Carroll & LS NakhiyaBS Amanda Ciesielski & LS ChristineBS Andrea Cifonelli & LS KayleighBS Michelle Collier & LS AndreaBS Michelle Contestable & LS ArmoniBB Michael Cosgrove & LB Di’VineBB Christopher Croudy & LB BlakeBS Debra Dickey & LS KaSandraBS Kristen Donnelly & LS CarlishaBS Jessica Doody & LS AlyssaBB Kurt Ernst & LB FrankBS Christine Farrow & LS ShacristaBS Tiffany Ford & LS TeyonnaBB Kofi Fynn-Aikins & LB JeremyBS Shaina Garner & LS JessicaBS Katherine Gunsolus & LB SebastianBS Carly Hadjeasgari & LS ShawniqueBS Amanda Harwood & LS TiffanyBB Patrick Higgins & LB JoeyBS Erin Horihan & LS AnnBB Mudassir Hussain & LB TaJuddinBS Anna Jablonski & LB DarylBS Karen Jones & LB TrequanBB Wayne Keiser & LB BryanBS Emily Kelly & LS NevaehBS Angela Keppel & LS AniylaBS Gloria Kornowski & LS LashawntianaBB Katherine Kuhrt & LS AntoinetteBS Jennifer Lafornara & LS BrittanyBB Michael Logsdon & LB AnthonyBS Randi McCoy & LB AshanteBS Lucy Maksymik & BS LakietaBB James Mantell & LB TylerBig Sister McKenzie Mattison & LB DominicBS Chanttel Melquist & LS AlexandraBS Jalonda Minor-Rogers & LS LyricBS Kristen Moran & LS KatelynBS Amanda Morgan & LS AmandaBS Connie Mosher & LS AngelaBS Asal Nassir & LS ElizabethBB Steven Pancio & LB GregoryBB Ryan Parisi & LB RobertBS Heather Paul & LS ElizabethBS Katherine Petruczok & LS BreaBB Seth Piccirillo & LB DominicBS Lynn Ritchie & LS HalleBB Devin Roberts & LB RichardBS Beverly Robinson-Smith & LS JasmineBS Cheryl Rozanski & LS DeneiliaBB Gregory Russell & LB AdrienBS Erin Ryan & LB BenjaminBB Lance Sabo & LB MichaelBS Linda Santa Maria & LS JanyiaBS Lisa Selkirk & LS GiovannaBB Michael Sia & LB SeanBS Lauren Simm & LS JalynnBS Jenna Smith & LS NeenaBS Lauren Solak & LS IjonayBB Matthew Stacey & LB Jarrett

BS Nicole Staszak & LB KajahmelBB Daniel Stolzberg & LB BrianBS Danielle Strike & LS KayleeBS Alison Stroczkowski & LB TrenajeBB Martin Surowiec Jr. & LB JosephBB Christopher Thevanesan & LB ShawnBB Kurt VanDeMark & LB HenryBB Andrew Valentin & BB JuanBB Jeremy Vancil & LB CoreyBS Kelly Vaylen & LS MariaBS Jessica Wagner & LS XeniaBS Sarah Walker & LS AyishaBB Thomas Waring & LB NyRuBS Amber Wilson & LS DiamondBS Jessica Woodrow & LS N’DeiahBS Kimberly Worgren & LS TatianaBB Eric Worral & LB Isiah

2 YearsBS Amy Armstrong & LB JerardBB Mark Bechtel & LB AntonioBS Elizabeth Cappadonia & LS CourtneyBS Kayla Festa & LS TahjanaeBB Michael Pagano & LB Dale BS Kriselle Gines & LS KaylaBS Colleen Hawkes & LS KayonnaBS Heather Henderson & LS JozlynnBS Elizabeth Jarned & LS KellyBS Maggie Keef & LS I-TeonaBS Kathryn Lowe & LB DamienBS Rose Max & LS IjnneBS Alexandra Mercurio & LS AriannaBS April Metz & LS JohanneBS Danielle Miano & LS MariahBS Hillary Osuch & LS KaitlynBB Brandon Pace & LB ZackeryBS Fatma Ramadan & LS KeishaunaBS Bridget Saviola & LS DesireeBS Courtney Seely & LS DenaeBB Andrew Streit & LB AaronBS Cymantha Walters & LS MaggieBB Dennis Williams & LB Shane

3 YearsBS Aimiamia Amadasu & LB RomiroBS Mary Beth Anstett & LS ElizabethBS Geanne Blazkow & LS DestinyBB Hayden Carruth & LB BenjaminBS Christina Certo & LB ChristianBS Katherine Conrad & LS SequoiaBB Dan Emmer & LB SidneyBS Rebecca Hoffman & LS Christal BS Carolyn Hurley & LS MaryBS Marguerite Knowles & LS HaleyBS Aubryn McGuire & LS JaylaBS Kathryn McMahon & LS MadalinaBB Joshua McSweeny & LB DaeshonBS Nicole Martin & LS KaitlinBS Valerie Masterman & LS MiozotiesBS Jessica Mattes & LS DiamoniqueBS Rachelle Matthys & DayqwanBS Lena May & LB JovannieBS Colleen Morrissey & LS KaylaBS Nicole Nichter & LS Dennique

BS Laura Roberts & LS A’aliyahBS Carrie Stevens & LB RainBS Rosemary Tonner & LS MistyBS Abigail Unger & LS GenevieveBS Anna Walters & LS Kieara

4 YearsBS Corrine Coen & LS Adaysha BB Jerry Fuller & LB EzequielBS Sarah Gilewicz & LB MarioBS Kelly Greene & LS JulieBB Brandon Kaznica & LB MarcelBS Amy Krafft & LB DeaquonBS Tracey Plummer & LS TiffanyBS Deborah Randazzo & LS TatianaBS Jodi Rathmann & LB Nathan

5 YearsBB Bernard Engel & LS SeanBS Valerie Heatter & LS JessicaBS Elyse Hulse & LS CiaraBS Ruth Keating & LS IkhiaBS Darlene Kosmoski and LS KrystleBS Karla Matusak & LS MorganBS Erin Nappe & LS JessicaBS Kimberly Sheldon & LS TiaraBS Crystal Sanfilippo & LS MarandaBB Daniel Tomczyk & LB JasonBS Brittany Voelker & LS Kaitlyn

6 YearsBS Kathleen Degnan & LS JaelynBS Anna Fulfaro & LS MarisaBS Malissa Schneider & LB Adam

7 YearsBS Jennifer Morath & LS Amanda BS Pat Porter & LS Shakara

9 YearsBS Jennifer Allan & LS JamieBB Kevin Kind & LB Bradley

10 YearsBS Chrissy Scott & LS Brittany

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Little Brother Bryan with Big Brother Wayne Keiser at the BBBS Fall Harvest Festival at Broadway Hope. A special thank you to Broadway Hope, Tree of Life Church and The Chapel at CrossPoint for their support in making this event possible!