Summer 2008 Newsletter

On June 24th at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, BBBS Mercer was honored for its outstanding work. Executive Director, Sue Dunning, accepted the award on behalf of our Board, sta�, donors and especially our volunteer Bigs. Only ten agencies, out of more than 400, received this honor which recognizes program growth and quality for two consecutive years. BBBS Mercer also received a 2008 Gold Standard Award for being among the top 5% for agency growth and quality in 2007.

This is the second year in a row that BBBS Mercer was honored at the National Convention. Last year, Dunning brought

BIG & LITTLE News from BBBS Mercer

BBBS Mercer Receives Prestigious

home the 2007 Gold Standard Award in recognition of BBBS Mercer’s work in 2006. Already well on the way to the goal of serving over 500 Big/Little matches in 2008, Dunning and sta� are going for a three-peat.

NRG Energy Employees are “Bigs” for a Day

NRG Energy’s Day of Caring on June 19th was a day of new friendships and exciting experiences for twenty-three children from Cadwalader Elementary School in Trenton. Matched with twenty-three employees from NRG’s Princeton office, the students embarked on a bus trip to the Franklin Institute where they enjoyed the exhibits, an IMAX theatre presentation and lunch with NRG CEO, David Crane.

“It was wonderful to see how well the students and their Bigs hit it off,” said Executive Director, Sue Dunning. “�e bus was full of smiles and laughter.” Making the day an even greater success, several NRG employees have asked to sign up to mentor the child they were matched with for the day. �ank you, NRG, for your support!

Sharing a BIG StoryTim & Darryl

Tim grew up in Mercer County, attended a local high school and college, pursued a law degree at Catholic University in Washington, DC, and after a countrywide tour returned to Mercer and is currently a young attorney with county government here. He is Caucasian and single. While he claims no precedent in his own life for under-standing the value of mentorship by a non-family member, it was suggested by a co-worker, who recognized his compassionate nature, that Tim consider becoming a Big Brother. And in 2006, through BBBS of Mercer’s Mentoring Program in area schools, Tim did just that.

His Little Brother Darryl is African-American. He lives with his grandmother who serves as his sole guardian and, though elderly, takes a very active interest in Darryl’s life.

Why did you think that mentoring a young person was something you’d like to do?

I thought I could be a role model and wanted to make a positive di�erence in the life of a young person. The BBBS Professional School-Based program let me explore that and my relationship with Darryl gives me that opportunity.

Is the youngster you are currently matched with your �rst?

Yes. I responded to a recruitment outreach at my o�ce and we were matched in April 2006. He was quite shy but gradually we got to be more comfortable with each other.

(continued on Page 3)

Autumn Culinaire2008

Greenacres Country Club, LawrencevilleThursday evening, October 16, 2008

6:00 - 10:00pm

Menu samplings �om Mercer’s �nest restaurantsSelect wine and international beer tasting

Silent Auction, South A�ican Safari Ra�eMeg Hanson Band featuring Billy Hill

National Awards

SAVE

$100 a ticketFor information about sponsorships or to purchase a ticket,

please call 609-656-1000, or visit us online at www.bbbsmercer.org

DATE!THE

Check out Page 4 for a list of our loyal program sponsors!

www.bbbsmercer.org Page 1 609-656-1000

Summer 2008

Rider Rumba Once Again a SuccessOur Bigs and Littles had a chance to show off their best moves and learn a few new ones at the 2nd Annual Rider Rumba held March 27th on the Rider University campus in Lawrenceville. Rider students participated in the dance-a-thon and everyone competed for prizes donated by area businesses. �e university provided the food and the DJ enter-tainment. Stylists from Fantastic Sam’s in Lawrenceville Shopping Center offered $5 haircuts, which proved to be very popular with the college students, and then donated their earnings to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Rider students raised $2500 from friends and family to benefit BBBS-Mercer’s mentor-ing programs. Danielle Phillips, Rider University student, Big Sister, and BBBS-Mercer’s part-time campus recruiter, organized the event with the help of new Big Sister, Stepha-nie Rosato, who will be stepping into Danielle’s recruiting shoes this fall.

BBBS-Mercer thanks the students and administration at Rider University for sponsoring the dance-a-thon again this year. Rider’s administration encourages its students to volun-teer with BBBS and their support of our programs has been exceptional. Go Broncs!

Perfect PicnicOur Second Annual Big/Little Picnic was held on June 1st, a beautiful Sunday a�ernoon, at Rosedale Park in Pennington. �e perfect weather - which rumor has it was ordered by Executive Director, Sue Dunning - greeted the over 200 Big and Littles who took part in a day of fun, food and friendship.

Attendees enjoyed an endless bu�et of BBQ delights from the Business Bistro (bbistro.com). Wegman’s completed the feast by donating wonderfully decorated cakes large enough to feed the entire crowd. Games and contests were organized by Big Sisters and Rider Univer-sity students, Danielle Phillips and Stephanie Rosato. Music from DJ T-Bone helped contribute to the festive atmosphere. On hand to record the fun was photogra-pher, Derek Little. Some of Derek’s beautiful photos can be seen below and the rest can be found on his website at www.dereklittle.com.

Our 26th Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake was a fun-�lled day for all. On Saturday, March 29th over 75 teams and 25 sponsors joined in for a good time for a great cause at Colonial Lanes in Lawrenceville. Trenton Thunder’s “Boomer” and magician, Dennis James, were on hand to delight the crowd and Fantastic Sam’s stylists provided haircuts for $5 and donated the money to BBBS. BFKS is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters biggest fundraisers, with all the proceeds going to support our youth mentoring programs.

Each year we are fortunate to have local businesses, organi-zations, families, and friends support us through sponsor-ships or by organizing teams of bowlers. Again this year Debbie Runyon served as our Event Chairperson and rallied her fellow employees at Sovereign Bank to lead the corpo-rate teams in funds raised. To all who participated this year, we o�er our sincere appreciation for your contribution. Your support helps us in our e�orts to build brighter futures for Mercer County’s children.

Presenting SponsorSovereign Bank

Event SponsorsTYCOGPSG AALCReed SmithNewmark Knight FrankJanssenMason, Gri�n & Pierson, PCPrinceton Weight Loss Program, Inc.R.E. Carroll, Inc.

Lane SponsorsBalthazar ElectricksBilltrustCapital Health SystemsCommerce BankFirst Choice BankGPSG AALCHoliday InnJanssenKlatzkin & Co.Lawrenceville LexusLuggage FactoryMarkowitz Gravelle, LLPMercer County Realtors AssociationPennington Quality MarketsPepsi of West ChesterPhi Beta Sigma FraternityQuality ExpressSir Speedy

Corporate/Organization TeamsCommerce BankFirst Choice BankGPSG AALCHoliday InnJanssenPhi Beta Sigma FraternityRobert Half InternationalRue InsuranceSovereign BankT-Bone MusicTycoWachovia Bank

BF

KS

20

08

Sp

on

so

rs

FORBOWLKIDS SAKE

www.bbbsmercer.org Page 2 609-656-1000

Sharing a BIG Story (continued from Page 1)

Tim & DarrylWhat sort of experiences have you shared with your Little, from the most routine to the most unusual?

Because of the nature of the Mentoring program, we meet many Wednesday’s at lunchtime at his school. We talk together, I help him with his homework, and I am there for him as a friend and adviser. But I also see him other times as well. His grandmother and I have a good relationship and she is very fond of me. I have been to their home many times and have taken Darryl to di�erent places and events.

Darryl lives in Trenton and was attending a school that gave his grandmother and me some concerns. I encouraged them to look at other opportunities. The three of us visited both a private school and a public charter school together, and I helped Darryl get into the charter middle school he preferred. He’s done very well there and we have been exploring public charter and private high school options.

Win a South African

Trip Includes...

- Safari for four people, two sharing

- South African Airways round trip economy tickets from JFK

- Beretta Boutique NYC four Safari jackets

- 2 nights Singita Game Reserve Meals and beverages; Safaris with guides

- 2 nights Le Quartier Francais, Franschoek; 1 dinner and breakfast

- 2 nights Dr. Gregory Olsen’s Vineyard, Paarl; South African Brai (bbq)

- $2,000 Visa Gift Card

Retail Value $27,640

To Purchase a Raffle Ticket,e-mail [email protected] or call 609-656-1000

I have gone to see Darryl play in his basketball and baseball games and I’ve taken him to watch professional baseball and basketball games. It should be mentioned that Darryl did recently beat me one-on-one in basketball, but it was close!

Is it important that the Big and Little share something more than gender? How does social class or culture in�uence a match? In other words, how have any di�erences between your Little’s experiences and expectations and your own played out?

Yes. We share our common Trenton roots, though my young friend was born into a less fortunate economic circum-stance than myself. But I have promised to be there for him for as long as he wants me in his life. I can be that positive role model, friend, and mentor, and I’ve o�ered to help him over or around the many hurdles life places in our way.

What gives you the greatest satisfaction/pleasure about your relationship with this young person?

When Darryl does well and is happy, I am happy. He recently made the Honor Roll; got accepted into a new public charter high school; and he is happy and loves his grandmother. These things give me my greatest satisfaction.

How do you think your Little would answer that question?

Darryl wrote, in a Thanksgiving letter: I am thankful for my Big Brother because, he is very helpful, open for questions, and always a good helper. He said I am also funny at times, and a good person to talk to when he is having problems. (I thought the “at times” quali�er was itself very funny!) I am very pleased with this acknowledgment and the letter hangs on my refrigerator.

Ken Mac PhersonSterling O�ce, LLC455 Piermont AvenueHillsdale, NJ 07642Phone 201-779-5016

Anthony Zascone A & A Improvements35 Colgate Dr.Toms River, NJ 08753Phone 908-513-6421

A BIG Thanks!�anks to the generosity of John Bushman of Newmark Knight Frank, BBBS Mercer’s o�ce has a new look. �e new furniture donations include work stations, �le cabinets and o�ce and conference room chairs and sofas. �ank you, John, for our wonderful new surroundings!

We would also like to acknowledge our movers/installers who took on this big task for a modest price. �ey did a great job and anyone looking for good, used o�ce furniture, or needs furniture moved/installed, we highly recommend:

www.bbbsmercer.org Page 3 609-656-1000

A special thanks to Deborah Terhune for making this amazing journey possible.

$20.00 per ticket

Robert Wood Johnson FoundationRoma Bank

Rue FoundationSaint David’s Episcopal Church

Schoor DePalmaSheseido

Sovereign BankStark & Stark

Trenton Funders’ Collaborative (The Bunbury Company, The Fund for

New Jersey, The Harbourton Foundation, Mary Owen

Borden Foundation, Princeton Area Community Foundation)

TYCO International United Way

VerizonYardville National Bank

Wachovia Bank

Beth and Hal Hills FoundationBristol-Myers SquibbBunbury Company

Church & Dwight Co., IncCommerce Bank

Credit SuisseDavid A. Lauer & Co.

David Mathey FoundationFirmenich

First Properties Corp.Fox Rothschild LLP

Gallup OrganizationGeorge Ohl Foundation

Goldman SachsGPSG-AALC

Hamilton JewelersHomasote Foundation

International Flavor and FragrancesJanssen LP

Klatzkin & CompanyLinus B. Gilbert Foundation

Mary Owen Borden FoundationMason, Gri�n & Pierson LLP

McGraw HillMcMaster Carr Supply Company

Merrill LynchNew Jersey Manufacturers

Newmark Knight FrankNovo Nordisk

NRG Energy, IncOlsen Foundation

Outback Steakhouse, HamiltonPSE&G

Princeton Area Community FoundationPrinceton Weight Loss

Red Wolf Design GroupReed Smith LLP

Robert Wood Johnson Hospital

We thank our dedicated volunteers & generous contributors for making this award possible.

Big Brothers Big Sistersof Mercer County535 East Franklin Ave.Trenton, NJ 08610

“Little Moments, Big Magic”

BBBS of Mercer County Sta�Susan Dunning - Executive Director

Jacqueline Brendel - Dir. of DevelopmentKim Cody - Dir. of Community Programs

Prema Ramroop - Dir. of School ProgramsTara Belford - Case Manager

Jasmyne Bivins - Case ManagerNancy Cox - Case Manager/RecruiterBeth Lawrence-Gill - Case Manager

Joseph Faulknor - Case ManagerAriel Matos - Case Manager

Denise Ratti - Customer RelationsElia Robertson - Intern (Notre Dame HS)

Stephanie Rosato - Student Recruiter, RiderDanielle Phillips - Student Recruiter, Rider

Board of DirectorsCli� Cramer - President

Debbie Runyon - Vice PresidentRuby Hofmann - SecretaryCarl E. Lockett - Treasurer

Faustina BalthazarEdward L. Benson Jr.

John Buschman Sara E. K. Cooper

Christopher FlorioThomas J. IrwinBeatrice Jones

Stephen N. KleinMark Lockett

Lindsay MartinShawn M. Neufeld

John A. PuzioMarsha StoltmannLynne Wildenboer

Leon WilliamsJim Yadlon

Pick your Make & Model!

Win a Car!

Only 1,499 tickets will be sold!

Retail Value $40,000 - $50,000

call 609.656.1000 or visit To purchase a ra�e ticket,

b b b s m e r c e r . o r g/c a r r a f f l e . h t m$100 per ticket

Prestigious National Awards(story on Page 1)

Right: The BBBS Mercer Sta� proudly displaying their 2008 Pinnacle Award(photo courtesy of Frank Jacobs, Trenton Times)

www.bbbsmercer.org Page 4 609-656-1000

Visit us online at

www.bbbsmercer.org