Community Read: Culminating Event on October 17

The Event
Three Cups of Tea is about the possibility of cultures coming together for a common goal of peace and hope. The book, and Mortenson's own courage and dedication to the mission, are catalysts for change, and motivate, inspire and educate. Bryan Nurnberger, of SimplySmiles, and his wife, inspirational singer/songwriter, Kristen Graves, will do the same for all of us through their parallel stories. Please join us on October 17th at 2 o’clock at John Winthrop Middle School in Deep River. Be inspired and enlightened – and filled with hope!



The Speakers
Bryan Nurnberger is the President and founder of Simply Smiles, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing bright futures for impoverished children. Bryan will share some of his stories and his philosophy on creating change and building community.


Bryan received a BA in History from the University of Colorado in 1999. Before founding Simply Smiles Inc., he worked as a History and Special Education teacher. He has also worked as a rock and ice climbing guide for Eastern Mountain Sports throughout New England. He is an Eagle Scout who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, lived with monks in Greece, and worked with sugar-cane cutters in The Dominican Republic. Mr. Nurnberger lives with his wife Kristen in Southport, CT.


Kristen Graves is a folk/pop singer & songwriter with a voice that commands attention, lyrics that catch your heart, and melodies that stay with the listener long after the evening ends. Kristen’s songs have a coziness to them like a well-worn winter blanket, but don’t underestimate her; she can pack a serious emotional punch at a moment’s notice. Picture an energetic Sarah McLachlan, or Tracy Chapman with a pop edge, and you’ve found Kristen Graves. Kristen has been writing and performing her own songs since 2000. As an acoustic singer & songwriter she has toured nationally since 2002. She has written and recorded four albums, and has independently sold thousands of copies of her CDs. Kristen will accompany Bryan on the 17th and will sing some of her songs of hope for us.


The Story
In the summer of 2002, Bryan, a rock climber, injured and unable to continue climbing on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, found himself heartbroken and appalled by the severe poverty he saw there.

Children at an orphanage where he was volunteering were wearing the same clothes day after day. Many of them wore the same diapers day in and day out, and most didn’t have food in their bellies.

So Nurnberger, then a special education teacher in Prospect, emptied his savings account of about $5,000.00. With that he bought food, clothes and diapers for the children at Casa Hogar, a struggling Mexican orphanage with 80 children.

In 2003 Nurnberger founded SimplySmiles with the start of his first project, The Casa HogarSimplySmiles has continued to grow, work and fulfill their mission of improving the lives of impoverished children in the mountains of southern Mexico, and around the world. Like Greg Mortenson, Bryan Nurnberger refused to think that one person with a vision, a heart and a commitment could not make a difference – even if it was one smile at a time! Like Greg Mortenson, Bryan would not give up or let “roadblocks” stop him.

Back in the beginning of his journey of hope and compassion, Bryan spent six months battling Mexican authorities as he tried to bring a school bus filled with medical supplies, toiletries, clothing, toys, and eighty personalized quilts to Casa Hogar. He persevered as Mexican authorities at the border changed the rules or presented new challenges. He has built a highly respected, and rapidly growing organization that has made huge differences in our world and will continue to do so! Now in 2010, SimplySmiles has expanded to include 5 projects – including monthly food distributions in the shockingly poor region of southern Oaxaca, Mexico, the launching of “SimplyCoffee”, with the goal to make being a coffee farmer in this region viable again., (Simply Coffee is in the very beginning steps of creating a coffee company that will buy the beans from the villagers at a “fair trade” price.), and the Cheyenne River project in South Dakota, with the vision to curtail suicides, to provide basic needs, to give children an alternative to the dangers of the streets, and to preserve and cultivate the rich Lakota Culture. Just this summer they completed building their first school in the southern region of Mexico!!