From the CEO
March 2011
Henry's smile is so wide that he has trouble squeezing himself through my door. Now 19 and two years after leaving "the Brae," Henry is making some deliveries in the area for his day job and has dropped in unannounced to say hello. Day job? Yes, Henry is also working as an EMT in the evening and studying part-time at our local community college. His goal? Henry wants to finish college and join the Coast Guard. He wants to "fly in a helicopter and save lives." Impossible? Tell that to Henry who has already taken courses, passed numerous tests, and saved lives at accident scenes in the New Brunswick area.
Henry's story is Bonnie Brae's story. When he arrived at Bonnie Brae several years ago Henry had the usual laundry list of negative labels as baggage. Abandoned at birth Henry had failed his way through a dozen foster homes and programs. On his first day at Bonnie Brae Henry appeared sad, depressed, and lost. Clearly Henry had been deeply traumatized by his initial abandonment and subsequent multiple failures and rejections. But as Bonnie Brae worked its magic Henry began to blossom. In our annual holiday play "Christmas on Pirate Island" Henry was the loudest pirate in the crew, emphasizing the "RRR" sound in all of his lines. Henry joined our drum corps, the Bonnie Brae Knights, and proudly marched past "his President," representing not only Bonnie Brae but all of New Jersey.
To help Henry and our other older adolescent residents Bonnie Brae obtained a matching grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was able to purchase a family home on a dead end street in New Brunswick. Henry was one of our first residents to make the move to the New Brunswick home and Henry made the most of his new community opportunities. Enrolled in the local public school Henry became the manager for the varsity basketball team. Inspired by his own health issues Henry volunteered several nights a week with the local first aid squad.
Henry's story is a good example of our recent push to remain connected with our former residents. Thanks to generous donors at a past Tartan Ball, Bonnie Brae was able to provide Henry with a scholarship to help with his expenses at the local community college. Thanks to a generous grant from The Kirby Foundation Bonnie Brae has been able to provide aftercare services to many other alumni just like Henry. Bonnie Brae's decision to continue to help our alumni after they leave our campus is a natural extension of our mission. Your willingness to support Bonnie Brae in these new endeavors is making a real difference in the lives of young people like our Henry.