Gil Sanchez

This past summer, on July 21, 2009, marked Gil Sanchez's 40-year relationship with his Fresh Air Fund host family, the Skoniecnys, from Litchfield, Connecticut. In 1969, Dave and Marlene Skoniecny and their three children, David, Dean and Dawn, welcomed six-year-old Gil into their home for the first time, not knowing that this young boy would play a significant role in their family for many years to come. During the ten summers that Gil visited with the Skoniecnys, he spent long afternoons at the playground, swimming and playing tennis. But what Gil enjoyed most about his visits with them were the Sunday dinners where he "really felt like a part of the family."

Gil and the Skoniecnys kept in constant communication after his summers as a Fresh Air Fund child were over. The Skoniecnys were invited to his wedding in 1986 and when Gil's first child was born, he "made sure to visit Litchfield right away." Gil served in the Air Force for almost 22 years and before he was stationed in Germany in 1988, he again made another visit to Connecticut. The Skoniecnys were proud of Gil for his service to the country and showed their support by attending his retirement ceremony this past May.

Today, Gil resides in Florida and although he is over 1,000 miles away from the Skoniecnys, he makes sure he keeps them posted on what he and his family are doing. Gil explains, "Mr. Skoniecny calls me to let me know he loves me, and I call him to let him know I love him; we always let each other know that we are thinking about one another."

Gil is grateful for the opportunity he had to participate with The Fresh Air Fund and truly thinks that "being a part of the Skoniecny's tight-knit family changed [his] life for the best." Gil "would love to host a Fresh Air child if the organization was in Florida," but instead gives back to The Fund by donating. For families who do have the opportunity to host, Gil advises, "Do it! It's the relationships you make that are worth it all."