Big Sister’s newsletter arrived in mailboxes mid-January. Below you’ll find the annual cover letter, from chief executive officer Deborah Re.
Dear Friends,
Last year, girls and women made the headlines. We applauded the selection of Malala Yousafzai as our Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and were concerned with the rise of campus violence against women. We were encouraged to learn that pay equity among women is increasing in many countries, and were enraged by the kidnapping of over 200 girls in Nigeria. Although we may not directly impact girls and women nationally or internationally, we do work together to create a stronger community for the girls in our region.
Many individuals and companies stepped up in 2014 to offer their support to us and provide opportunities for our Little Sisters. FleishmanHillard stood up and said, We will help you with your marketing efforts; Paul Revere Transportation said, We will provide transportation for your Little Sisters; professionals from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts said, We will help you develop a stronger support structure for your staff; the Boston Police Department said, We will train you in self-defense to help keep you safe; forty-four people from our community stepped up and said, We will provide winter coats for the girls waiting to be matched with a Big Sister; and, seven hundred women stood up and said, We will become Big Sisters.
In addition, as a member of our new Governor Charlie Baker’s transition committee, I saw firsthand the deep commitment of our Governor to improve the quality of life and create access and opportunity for all
Massachusetts residents. Serving on Mayor Walsh’s Women’s Commission, it’s clear to me that the welfare of girls and women is an essential part of his agenda to create a healthy, vibrant City.
Another important leader in sustaining a strong, connected City is the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Being recognized by the Chamber to receive their Pinnacle Award for Non-profit Management, demonstrates the value they place on the work that we are doing at Big Sister to improve the lives of girls, and women, in our region.
As we launch the New Year with National Mentoring Month, our mentors and Alumnae are preparing for a day of advocacy at the State House. We are fortunate to work in a City where so many individuals are committed to ensuring that Greater Boston is a place where girls and women can thrive. We know that when we all come together: government, corporate, private, and public, all citizens, focused not on our otherness but on our oneness, our community will only grow
stronger.
We are grateful for the giving, compassionate spirit of the Big Sister community. We know it is only through this interwoven fabric of support, that we will reach more than 2,700 girls in 2015, giving them each the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
We wish you all a happy, healthy, and joyful New Year.
Warm regards,
Deborah Re
Read the complete newsletter here!
