I hope your 2023 is off to a great start! While we’re only two weeks into the new year… whoa, it already feels like a fantasy!
We’ve been dreaming big for some time about how to do more for our kids and families, and now we’re making those dreams come true.
I’m delighted to announce that our part-time resource coordinator, Carissa Russo, has joined our team full-time.
Carissa has been a dedicated team member who has gone above and beyond for our families every day since she joined B2g in March 2022. She is passionate about helping our kids and families thrive by providing care, support services, and resources. Our families know she’s just a call or text away whenever they have a question, need a referral, or want someone to talk to who understands.
I’m grateful for Carissa’s commitment to helping us grow!
And, I’m especially grateful for your generosity which makes this boost in support to our families possible. Whether you made an annual gift, donated to a mustache-growing friend, or participated in a special event, you are making a difference for children with serious illnesses!
We look forward to the next 50 weeks with excitement, more gratitude and big-big energy as we prepare to expand our programs and serve more families. This BIG dream is where our heart is. This BIG year is where our passion lives. This BIG love is where we (that includes you!) help our awesome kiddos and families cope, thrive, and experience moments of joy.
I look forward to sharing more updates with you in the coming weeks. Thank you for being a part of our Better2gether community!
Gratefully yours,
Stephanie Becker
Executive Director
Events
Put some heart into your golf game!
Mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual Better2gether Golf Classic on May 18!
We’re excited to tee off with our new tournament partner, Magnolia Green Golf Club. There’s more than golf to look forward to with on-course experiences and games. Registration is coming soon.
Join us inside the ropes as a sponsor! We have a range of sponsorship levels offering benefits, such as exclusive naming opportunities, premium placement of your brand at the event, team registrations and swag, plus boxed lunches, snacks and on-course beverage service – we promise you won’t be waiting on the drink cart!
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Donor Spotlight
Meet big-hearted Andy Taylor!
After enjoying a successful career for over 25 years, Andy retired from corporate life. But he knew he wasn’t ready to sit back and slow down. “I was looking to write the next chapter,” he shares.
Andy had a few criteria in mind as he explored various professional paths. The most important one was to find a business opportunity that would be an ideal fit for his young adult son, Hunter, who was born with hearing loss and is deaf.
Because communicating over the phone is an integral aspect of many corporate jobs, Andy and Hunter started looking for businesses that didn’t rely heavily on telephone communication. However, that was only the first of their requirements.
“We wanted to find something that was environmentally focused because that is important to our family and we felt would become a major focus in years to come,” says Andy. “Also, we wanted something that would allow us to give back to the RVA community that has been so generous to us over the past three decades.”
During this time – in 2016 – Andy and his wife were downsizing from their Hanover County home and realized a major shortage of eco-friendly options to dispose of unwanted items. And that’s how Junkluggers of Central Virginia was born.
“Consistent with our mission to give back, we decided that a portion of the profits from items sold on the floor would be donated to a charity,” Andy says.
While investigating local nonprofits, Andy learned about Better2gether and knew it would be an ideal fit. “B2G has the ability to reach a lot of families,” explains Andy. “And we knew that the funds we donate will go to the right places. We were also impressed with the B2G leadership. They are very passionate about what they do.”
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Programs
Get ready to hug!
Children with rare or serious illnesses face long days of medical appointments, hospital stays and surgeries. Half of all rare disease diagnoses are kids, and over 50% of rare diseases do not have a specific foundation supporting their illness.
Rare Disease Day is February 28th, but at Better2gether, we want to celebrate our champions all month. Throughout February we want to gift every B2g child a special care package, sure to spark a smile and make them feel the love.
With a $35 donation, you can send a BIG (bear) HUG to brighten up the dark days of being a patient. Watch your inbox for how you can help a child shine!
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