Letter from the Executive Director: Winter 2025

Four years ago we imagined a future for the Mary Lyon Foundation in which we would expand our programming and grow our operating and program endowments to meet the extraordinary challenges of the families in the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont School Districts in perpetuity. Because of the commitment of community members like yourself, we have almost met our Comprehensive Campaign Goal of $5,000,000. With $435,042.52 left to raise by September 30, 2025, we are confident that, with your continued commitment, we will reach our goal.

Our endowments are invested accounts. Over the past four years, we have created an endowment for all our programs. The Foundation only uses a small percentage of the growth of the accounts to ensure the principal grows and the fund is available in perpetuity. The creation and development of our endowments have stabilized our operational capacity and ensured the continuation of our programming.

The Mary Lyon Foundation’s impact in Western Franklin County is substantial. Our commitment to providing families with basic needs to ensure that children come to school fed, warm, and ready to learn is at the forefront of our mission. Ensuring that children have books to read in the classroom and at home, eyeglasses so they can see, adequate school supplies, and scholarships for college and postsecondary programs is evidence that the Mary Lyon Foundation has realized its vision. The families in Western Franklin County are being provided with a lifeline like never before.

The Mary Lyon Foundation’s impact in West County can be much more. As part of our strategic plan, we’ve begun helping other local families in Franklin County. The needs in our region are extraordinary, and we believe we can and should support all of Franklin County. Over the past four years, we’ve helped a young mom acquire tires for her car so she could start her new job as a phlebotomist, helped young families with re-homing costs, gave gas cards to travel to doctor’s visits, helped pay utility bills and much more.

We visualized a community in Franklin County where families have the essential resources to make ends meet and children are revered and nurtured. Imagine the educational outcomes for children when families can provide for them!

Where do we go from here?

We will continue our good work and expand our services to help more people in Franklin County. Through the generosity of a new donor, we are endowing a new fund named the Union 38(FRS) and Mohawk Trail (MTRS) Family Fund. This new fund meets the goals of our strategic plan and will support the essential needs of students and families in both districts. We will continue to work to expand our programming and, over the next few years, will roll out a plan to provide comprehensive wrap-around services for everyone living in Western Franklin County.

We are grateful to those who have supported us over the past years. With an eye toward the future, we will continue our good work and hope you will continue supporting our mission. For those who still want to assist us, please join our campaign today.

Happy New Year,

Kristen Tillona-Baker
Executive Director