August|NNP 6|CD ,|, 1998|CD 

Dear|RB Friend|NNP :|: 

Adolescence|NNP .|. 
It|PRP is|VBZ a|DT pivotal|JJ time|NN in|IN the|DT life|NN of|IN a|DT young|JJ girl-when|JJ small|JJ changes|NNS in|IN her|PRP$ behavior|NN ,|, or|CC the|DT choices|NNS she|PRP makes|VBZ ,|, can|MD affect|VB her|PRP$ future|JJ .|. 
It|PRP 's|VBZ hard|JJ enough|RB for|IN her|PRP to|TO make|VB good|JJ decisions|NNS when|WRB she|PRP 's|VBZ surrounded|VBN by|IN support|NN .|. 
It|PRP 's|VBZ even|RB harder|RBR when|WRB she|PRP is|VBZ n't|RB .|. 

Big|NNP Sisters|NNP helps|VBZ fill|VB that|DT void|NN by|IN matching|VBG caring|VBG ,|, responsible|JJ adult|NN volunteers|NNS with|IN at-risk|JJ girls|NNS ,|, ages|NNS 8|CD -|: 14|CD .|. 
A|DT Big|NNP Sister|NNP is|VBZ a|DT mentor|NN ,|, a|DT friend|NN and|CC a|DT role|NN model|NN ,|, helping|VBG a|DT young|JJ girl|NN to|TO develop|VB the|DT self-confidence|NN and|CC life|NN skills|NNS necessary|JJ to|TO become|VB a|DT responsible|JJ ,|, productive|JJ and|CC successful|JJ adult|NN .|. 
Your|PRP$ $1,000|NN contribution|NN can|MD put|VB a|DT mentor|NN in|IN a|DT child|NN 's|POS life-and|JJ hope|NN in|IN a|DT child|NN 's|POS future|NN .|. 

The|DT results|NNS of|IN an|DT 18|CD -|: month|NN study|NN completed|VBN by|IN Public|NNP /|NN Private|NNP Ventures|NNPS showed|VBD that|IN children|NNS participating|VBG in|IN one-to-one|JJ Big|NNP Sister|NNP and|CC Big|NNP Brother|NNP matches|VBZ for|IN just|RB one|CD year|NN ,|, reduced|VBD first|JJ time|NN drug|NN use|NN by|IN 46|CD %|NN ;|: lowered|VBD school|NN absenteeism|NN by|IN 52|CD %|NN ;|: cut|VB aggressive|JJ behavior|NN by|IN 33|CD %|NN ;|: enhanced|JJ school|NN performance|NN ;|: and|CC improved|VBN relations|NNS with|IN family|NN and|CC friends|NNS .|. 

This|DT is|VBZ positive|JJ proof|NN that|IN Big|NNP Sisters|NNP one-to-one|JJ mentoring|VBG program|NN helps|VBZ change|NN lives|NNS .|. 
Today|NN ,|, we|PRP are|VBP offering|VBG you|PRP the|DT opportunity|NN to|TO help|VB change|VB a|DT life|NN .|. 
By|IN contributing|VBG $1,000|NN you|PRP can|MD support|VB one|CD match|VB for|IN one|CD year|NN .|. 
This|DT money|NN maintains|VBZ the|DT infrastructure|NN that|IN fosters|NNS and|CC supports|VBZ the|DT development|NN of|IN effective|JJ relationships|NNS .|. 
This|DT includes|VBZ a|DT volunteer|NN screening|NN process|NN ,|, orientation|NN ,|, training|NN and|CC ongoing|JJ supervision|NN and|CC support|NN by|IN a|DT professional|JJ staff|NN .|. 

As|IN a|DT Matchmaker|NNP you|PRP will|MD receive|VB a|DT description|NN of|IN "|'' your|PRP$ match|NN "|'' and|CC be|VB identified|VBN as|IN a|DT Matchmaker|NNP on|IN a|DT plaque|NN in|IN the|DT Big|NNP Sisters|NNP office|NN ,|, in|IN the|DT agency|NN newsletter|NN and|CC annual|JJ report|NN .|. 

Today|NNP Big|NNP Sisters|NNP serves|VBZ over|IN 1,000|CD girls|NNS in|IN central|JJ Indiana|NNP .|. 
But|CC for|IN each|DT girl|NN served|VBD ,|, more|JJR are|VBP left|VBN unserved|JJ .|. 
Over|IN 235|CD girls|NNS are|VBP currently|RB waiting|VBG for|IN a|DT Big|NNP Sister|NNP .|. 
Imagine|VB the|DT difference|NN the|DT community|NN could|MD make|VB if|IN each|DT congregation|NN pledged|VBD its|PRP$ support|NN of|IN one|CD Big|NNP Sisters|NNP match|VB !|. 

I|PRP encourage|VBP you|PRP to|TO Join|NNP me|PRP in|IN presenting|VBG this|DT matchmaker|NN challenge|NN to|TO your|PRP$ congregation|NN .|. 

Sincerely|NNP ,|, 

Dr.|NN Linda|NNP McCoy|NNP Pastor|NNP ,|, THE|DT GARDEN|NNP A|DT Blossom|NNP of|IN St.|NN Luke|NNP 's|POS United|NNP Methodist|NNP Church|NNP 

