Posts by Hayley Sotolotto
Board Spotlight: Arthur DeBow – Empowering Student Success
Arthur DeBow is an active Mary Lyon Foundation board member and an ardent advocate for local K-12 students and their families. Arthur’s dedication to providing opportunities for student success is inspiring and has made him an invaluable asset to the Foundation. By working to mobilize services and programs that create positive educational outcomes, Arthur empowers…
Read MoreExtending a Helping Hand: The Mary Lyon Foundation’s Impact on Families During Challenging Times
The Mary Lyon Foundation’s support and dedication to the community were critical for many families during the chaos and uncertainty of COVID-19. Kecelyn DeArmond, a parent whose children attend Hawlemont Elementary School, recalls how the Mary Lyon Foundation provided her family with crucial aid and renewed hope during those particularly challenging times. Coping with Homeschooling…
Read MoreLetter from the Executive Director: Summer 2023
We blazed into summer with a Reach for the Stars launch party supporting our Campaign for Student Success. The well-attended event was at the Crazy Horse Bar and Grill at Berkshire East in Charlemont, MA, and featured local musicians Greg Smith and Tory Hanna, along with the Mohawk Trail High School Chorus. The band played…
Read MoreVolunteer Month
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers! In honor of National Volunteer Month, we celebrate their commitment to our communities. Shown below are our Hilltown Church Food Pantry Volunteers, who helped move 4,000 pounds of food in March, feeding hundreds of people with the assistance and support of 11 drivers. We appreciate our volunteers today and…
Read MoreCalling Our Community to Action for Student Success
We take our name from the pioneering 19th-century educator, Mary Lyon, a Buckland native and the founder of Mt. Holyoke College in 1837, who devoted her life to providing access to education for everyone. Her words, spoken roughly 150 years ago, “Go where no one else will go. Do what no one else will do.”…
Read MoreThe Davin Scholarship: Carrying on Tanja’s Legacy & Motivating Future Doctors
Tanja Davin knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age. Her mother and father, Lizz and Bruce Davin, were elated for their daughter to have the ambition, drive, and intellect to make her dream come true. “We just watched and waited, and sure enough, she graduated, went onto Tufts, went into pre-med,…
Read MoreEmily Willis, Friends of the Foundation Spotlight
Emily Willis, former Mary Lyon Foundation board member and devoted librarian, is steadfastly committed to fostering student success. Through her involvement with the Mary Lyon Foundation, Emily ensures the Mohawk Trail Regional School District (MTRS) literacy and library programs are successful. She’s passionate about the benefits of the library, and she was eager to partner with the Mary Lyon Foundation for…
Read MoreLetter from the Executive Director: Spring 2023
Spring has sprung, and it’s time to celebrate the tireless work of our Volunteers! April is National Volunteer Month, and the Mary Lyon Foundation is exceptionally grateful for the service of our volunteers. Their impact is immeasurable. The Mary Lyon Foundation has eleven volunteers who assist us with our grocery delivery program through Hilltown Church’s…
Read MoreProviding Warmth and Care During a Cold, Hard Winter
Scarlet Kitchen and her son recently moved to Massachusetts from Hawaii. Going from a warm, sunny climate to a cold, dark New England winter was a shock to their systems. To make the challenging transition harder, Scarlet’s furnace broke in November. Scarlet contacted several offices in the area to receive assistance, but no one returned…
Read MoreBoard Member Peter Stevens Believes in Giving Back
Long-time Shelburne resident and board member Peter Stevens has spent his life giving back by working with education-focused non-profits – and he doesn’t plan to stop. Initially invited into the Foundation by founder Sue Samoriski, Peter has played a vital role in the Mary Lyon Foundation’s success for nearly seven years. He currently serves as Vice-Chair…
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