Holiday Social Raffle Winner Donates Big Prize to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast

BY THERESA CONN

Green Alliance Staff Writer

PORTSMOUTH — The spirit of the holidays was readily apparent at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Holiday Social on Dec. 5. The event, hosted by ENH Power at the Green Alliance atrium, was a cheerful collaboration that supported the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast. Guests enjoyed food and beverages while they were engaged in giving back to the community.

The event featured a “Little’s Wish List” holiday drive. Wish list items included bedding, warm clothes, toys, gift cards, hygiene products, and nonperishable food items. All donations went directly to the Big Brothers Big Sisters, who crafted gift baskets for families in need.

Attendees who donated items to the wish list were entered in a raffle. The grand prize was one year’s worth of electricity from ENH Power. ENH Power is a local electricity supplier that is committed to providing clean, affordable power. ENH is also passionate about supporting the communities it serves, both by improving the local economy and by supporting local charities. 

The winner of the grand prize was Gayle Sanders. Sanders heard about the Holiday Social when she attended another event, the Green Alliance Green Building Trades Social. After being invited to the event by Julie Lapham of ENH Power, Sanders attended the workshop because of her passion for remodeling and her budding interest in green design. Sanders is the owner of Gayle Sanders Home Design. After the informative evening, Gayle decided to attend the Holiday Social because of her support for Big Brothers Big Sisters and ENH Power.

“ENH Power is a great example of a company that is trying to pay it forward,” Sanders said. “I’ve been impressed both by their alternative energy options and by their charity work in New England. Big Brothers Big Sisters and ENH are made up of people in our community. They’re supporting our neighbors in need. As an owner of a local business, I feel it’s my duty to support that.”

Sanders, along with dozens of others, enjoyed the festive early-December social. ENH Power provided crafts and games, and catered the event, while the Green Alliance provided space. Big Brothers Big Sisters shared a heartwarming video that speaks to the value of their programs.  The video was a gift of appreciation from a Little Sister to her Big Sister around the time of Thanksgiving!

The next morning, Sanders got a voicemail informing her that she had won a year’s worth of free electricity at the holiday social. Although she was happy to win, she was more excited to pass on her winnings to a worthy cause: the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast.

“I just felt like the right thing to do,” explained Sanders. “I thought about how much good that prize could do for the Big Brothers Big Sisters. Having free power for a year will relieve the organization of a burden, and will allow them to focus more on helping kids.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Stacy Kramer believes that Sanders’ gift will have an incredible impact on their organization.

“It made our year,” said Kramer. “We were so excited and surprised when we found out that Gayle had donated her winnings. All of the money we’ll be saving will be put right back into making matches between mentors and kids.”

According to Kramer, the work BBBS does is more expensive than one would anticipate. “Some people underestimate the costs of making matches,” she said. “We have to recruit the mentors, conduct background checks, provide trainings and the ongoing support once the match is made. With Gayle’s donation, we can spend less money on overhead costs and focus on doing what we do best: connecting kids with mentors in our community.”

ENH Power was delighted that its donation ended up with Big Brothers Big Sisters. For ENH Power, the spirit of giving lasts all year long. Through its Power to Help program, ENH partners with more than 20 charities throughout New Hampshire.

“Our charity work reflects our core values as a company,” said Julie Lapham, ENH Power’s outreach coordinator. “We care about our communities and the people who live there.” 

ENH Power and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast are Business Partners of the Green Alliance. The GA is a union of local sustainable businesses promoting environmentally sound business practices and a green co-op offering discounted green products and services to its members. 

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast, visit www.bbbsgs.org.

For more information about ENH Power, visit www.enhpower.com/.

And for more information about the Green Alliance, visit www.greenalliance.biz.