On June 27, 2007, Big Sister Association of Greater Boston recognized 14 Big Sisters of the Year and the Life Choices Site Contact of the Year at their fundraising breakfast and awards ceremony held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in downtown Boston. The event was emceed by Reverend Dr. Gloria White-Hammond and was attended by nearly 250 guests who not only celebrated the winners, but generously donated money to support Big Sister’s mentoring programs for girls.
“If I didn’t know [Big Sister] Holly, I don’t know where I would be,” said 16 year-old Little Sister Meghan, who spoke at the event and has been matched with Big Sister of the Year Holly for nearly five years.
Big Sisters Holly Charron, Emily Howe, Betsy Pritzker, Julie White, Angela Johnson, Jane Kepros and Connie Ramelli were named Community-Based Big Sisters of the Year for their dedication in their one-to-one mentoring relationships with their Little Sisters. Alice Dembner, Regina McNally and Jen Tyson were named School-Based Mentoring Big Sisters of the Year for their loyalty and commitment in meeting with each of their Little Sisters at the girls’ elementary schools throughout the school year. Amy Butterworth, Janim Ciares, Jeanne Mansfield and Ruby Richardson were named TEAM Big Sisters of the Year for their commitment to their group of Little Sisters who they mentored on a weekly basis during the academic year. Paul Hodlin, of the Boston Juvenile Court Clinic, was honored as the Life Choices Site Contact of the Year for his tireless efforts in promoting Big Sister’s Life Choices Group Mentoring program in the Suffolk County court system.
“While all our Big Sisters are going the extra mile by sharing a friendship with a girl who needs a little added support and encouragement in her life, our Big Sisters of the Year truly go above and beyond,” said Deborah Re, Big Sister’s Chief Executive Officer. “And without advocates like Paul Hodlin, Big Sister would not be able to grow and expand our programs so that we can serve more Greater Boston girls.”
