Asiam Designs Photography: August 2009

Dear colleagues, friends and family,

On September 26th, I’ll be riding my bike 25 miles in the Rodman Ride for Kids to support the Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts (FNC). FNC is a Boston-based non-profit with a 15 year history of providing comprehensive supports to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.

This is my fourth consecutive year riding with FNC and the Rodman Ride for kids. I have enjoyed volunteering for the Roslindale Nurturing Program on my own time, and for FNC in the past few years through the State SERV program. I truly appreciate all of your past support.

The reason I continue to ride is because I believe that all of Boston’s children deserve to grow up in nurturing, supportive families and communities. FNC provides family support programs to improve the parent and child relationship at all ages and stages of growth, build nurturing skills and knowledge of healthy child development, and connect families to each other, to their community, and to resources.

The Family Nurturing Center is best known for its evidence-based Nurturing Parenting Programs: 12-15 week programs for parents and children to attend together. FNC has spread the Nurturing Philosophy through trainings to other organizations in and around Boston and across the state, but it also offers specialized curricula, including NPs for birth & foster families, pre-natal families, and Cape Verdean families. FNC piloted Boston’s first Nurturing Fathers’ Program and continues to provide multiple parenting programs each year for fathers, even those who are incarcerated.

Another way FNC serves families is through its Neighborhood Circles of Caring in Dorchester, Allston-Brighton, and Roslindale. Working with many community partners, FNC provides Welcome Baby home visits to families with newborns, Parent-Child Playgroups (a model replicated by Boston Public School’s Countdown to Kindergarten), Nurturing Programs, Nurturing Circles Parent Support Groups, a Family Literacy Program, and other activities neighborhood residents desire for themselves and their children. For families that are isolated or have few other resources, FNC is often the gateway to many other valuable supports and connections. For more information, see FNC’s website: www.familynurturing.org.

By sponsoring me in the Ride for Kids, you will make a real difference in ensuring that FNC’s important work can continue. Last year, hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals donated over $6 million to the Ride for Kids on behalf of 25 agencies serving Massachusetts children. I hope you’ll join in this year, by sponsoring me at whatever level feels comfortable to you. As a Rider for Team FNC, I am committed to raising $1,000 toward FNC’s $125,000 goal.

Participation in the Ride comes at no cost to FNC or to you. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Family Nurturing Center. On top of that, the Ride for Kids has pledged to add another 15%. For every $100 that you donate, FNC will receive $115 to spend on programs that nurture healthy children and strong families!

The easiest way to support FNC and sponsor me is:
1) Go online to http://www.familynurturing.org/
2) At the Ride logo, click on CLICK HERE, which brings you to FNC’s Ride website.
3) Click on the turquoise Sponsor Rider tab.
4) Type in Alinda Bostick and click Search.
5) Click on Alinda Bostick, and follow the instructions from there!

If you prefer to send a check, please make it out to “Ride for Kids/FNC” and mail it to: Family Nurturing Center, 200 Bowdoin St., Boston, MA 02122. Attn: Ride for Kids/Alinda Bostick.
I hope you’ll join in, giving as generously as you can. Thanks so much!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Alinda Bostick