Submitted by Brian Kelly
(April 19, 2024) — Joey Redmond of Higganum has been named Big Brother of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut.
Upon learning of the recognition, Redmond was quick to say that he never would have qualified for the honor if it weren’t for the support of his “Little Brother,” Denzel Pinet-Sepulveda of Bristol. “I’m humbled by the recognition,” said Redmond, “and I share this great honor with Denzel.”
Pinet-Sepulveda, who is a second-year student at Bristol Central High School, told a television reporter, “Joey couldn’t be better. He’s always there for me, listens to me and has become a real friend.”
“Denzel is such an open and good-natured guy that we hit it off the moment we first met,” said Redmond. Denzel and Joey have been matched in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut community-based program for the past five years. The two are huge sports fans and many of their activities together are sports-related.
“Thanks to free tickets from Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Redmond says, “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been able to go to Hartford Yard Goats, New Britain Bees, and Hartford Athletic games.”
“We like going to Mount Southington, too,” Pinet-Sepulveda added. “Big Brothers Big Sisters has a long partnership with the Mount Southington Ski Area, which means we get to ski and snowboard there at no cost. When we first started going, I wasn’t very good. Now I’m way better. They even made me a ski ambassador.”
Redmond’s achievement will be formally celebrated at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Year Awards event on April 24, 2024 at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford. His “Little Brother” Denzel plans to be right next to Joey at the podium when he accepts his trophy.
Find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut by visiting www.ctbigs.org
Photo provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut. From left: Denzel Pinet-Sepulveda, NBC Connecticut reporter Jane Caffrey, and Joey Redmond.
