Building Support – wayne centrone

I have a plastic box of screws, bolts, fasteners, and odds-and-ends I have collected for years. I pull out the box and rummage for a match whenever I have a missing bolt.

I add to the collection whenever I find an aberrant item. It is a collection of treasured finds, incorrect purchases, and failed projects. I love the box. The articles are a reassurance that I have a backup plan. Sometimes I am lucky and find what I need. Other times I merely confirm a suspicion and need to head to the local hardware store.

This past weekend we had our first A Bridge to Change event in Hartford, Connecticut. We sold 63 tickets and had almost 50 attendees. We also raised close to $30,000 to support the Casa Girasoles Program. It was a great success.

In addition to the financial support, the event connected HBI to a whole new group of stakeholders. We built bridges with people who had just learned about our work. We also were blessed to have the support of a large group of ex-pat Peruvians from the area, including the Consular General from the Peruvian Consulate to the United States.

The event was like my box of screws and bolts – it added to our resources and expanded our bridges. This work – transforming the lives of children who have lived through tremendous trauma – takes a team of people. No person has all the knowledge and skills needed to be “everything to everyone,” so we have a group of supporters and stakeholders.

This past weekend we built more support for our movement. Together, we can continue to work toward a world where every child has access to health, hope, home, and purpose.