Reference Letter …Cont…

Mark, along with his wife Tiffany, maintains his home in an exemplary fashion and takes pride in the maintenance and cleanliness of his possessions. His home is a reflection of him-- fun, colorful, and inviting. I do feel the interior of his home is child friendly. However, he does have a balcony. He and his wife will have to exercise careful vigilance in the case of a small child. I have no doubt they will not fail to do so.

Mark comes from a big family, and he is the proud uncle of two small nieces. I have observed Mark around these girls. He was extremely affectionate and careful with them (they are still babies). He beams with happiness when around them, and he without a doubt values their presence in his life. Furthermore, Mark is defiantly a positive influence on his adolescent brother-in-laws (Tiffany's brothers). He often spends quality time with them and treats them as equals and not like children. Once, I went with Mark, Tiffany, and the boys to go roller-skating. Mark goes out of his way, so to speak, to include the boys and I can infer that they very much admire him.

I do feel that Mark is a tremendous role model to those around him. One of Mark's most noble and standout qualities is his loyalty. Mark stands by his friends and family through thick and thin. He never denies his support and love, and he especially extends it to those who need it the most. Mark is extremely personable and magnetic. He has a good time wherever he goes, and is a pleasure to be around. He develops a strong sense of fraternity with all of his friends and values them indefinitely. For this, I feel he is inspiring to both adults and children alike. I think this is an opportune time for Mark (and his wife Tiffany) to take on the extra responsibility of becoming a Big. They never cease to set aside space for quality time with each other. Whether it be going to Colts games, movies, local events, or hosting dinner parties at their home. I can easily see them adding a child into the mix, and I have no doubt that they would thoroughly enjoy the experience (as well as take it seriously).

I would like to add that I worked with Mark for three years at Menards hardware store in Terre Haute, IN. He was an exceptional employee. He was fair, responsible, punctual, and always treated co-workers and customers with respect and consideration. For these attributes, he was promoted to manager of his department and he flourished with this role of leadership. I have no reservation in recommending Mark for the Big Brother program.

THANKS SO MUCH, STEPH! LOVE YOU, GIRL!