Thanks to the generous support of neighbors like you, over the past four years, we have raised an impressive $4.2 million toward our $5 million goal. With $800,000 still to fundraise to reach our goal, we are asking you, our valued supporters, to stand with us in this final stretch. With your continued help, we can provide much needed services to students and families by facilitating a concrete way for them to overcome generational poverty and achieve the best educational outcomes for students in our area.

Mary Lyon Foundation practices being a good neighbor by:

• Funding a mom to achieve her GED and access career training programs to better provide for her family;
• Providing support for gas and food for a grandma who is raising her five grandchildren;
• Acquiring fuel assistance support for numerous young families in West County, ensuring they can cook hot meals and live in a warm home;.
• Securing heat for a senior citizen with significant medical needs and living alone;.
• Funding driver education courses for a number of students so that they can secure their driver’s licenses and then commute to school and after-school jobs.
• Delivering groceries for 160 people every other week in neighboring towns;.
• Awarding an average of $50,000 in student scholarship awards annually;
• Giving hundreds of books to children to promote literacy;
• Funding winter clothing for children and families;
• Supporting the Holiday Wishes Campaign for numerous children and families;
• Funding thousands of dollars to support the unhoused in our community so children do not sleep in tents and cars;
• Funding areas such as child care, eyeglasses, and medical expenses;;
• Supporting MRTD educators who go above and beyond to educate children;
• And much more…

Did you know that many families the Mary Lyon Foundation supports can only order oil or propane if they have cash for delivery or a guarantee from the Mary Lyon Foundation?  Imagine being a student who cannot get warm or a parent who can’t put a hot meal on the table because they are out of fuel. Your gift today helps the Mary Lyon Foundation ensure that no child experiences these circumstances.

Being a good neighbor to the Mary Lyon Foundation means helping someone in need regardless of their circumstances. The families in our community are hard-working and sometimes have difficulty making ends meet due to the high cost of living. Your financial gift gives parents peace of mind that they can provide for their children and actualize a goal we have for all children in West County: to learn, succeed, and thrive.

Your contribution today has an immediate and profound effect on our community. By considering making a monthly gift to the Mary Lyon Foundation through our online giving at www.marylyonfoundation.org/studentsuccess, you're not just being a good neighbor; you're directly impacting children's lives for the better and contributing to their best educational outcomes. Your support helps our community thrive!

Your support is crucial as we enter the final year of the Mary Lyon Foundation Comprehensive Capital Campaign. With your help, we can achieve our three critical goals and make our community a brighter place for everyone. Please make a gift to the Mary Lyon Foundation before the end of 2024.

Sincerely,

Kristen Tillona Baker  

Executive Director 

Arthur DeBow

Chair, Comprehensive Capital Campaign