The long days of summer are behind us, and as we look forward to the fall, the needs of our families and students in West County are at the forefront of my mind.    

I spend a lot of time thinking of ways we can help more families and significantly impact our community. The children of our community need us to support their enrichment and ensure they have equitable access to the programs and resources required for success.

Growing up in rural Western Massachusetts comes with great pleasures that many living in urban areas may not understand – with mountains for exploring, streams for splashing, and apples for picking, it’s a privilege to be amongst nature. These quintessential images define how I grew up, and our families in West County are trying to preserve this way of life for their children.

Living in the hills also comes with real struggles, such as accessibility to services critical for families, which can be challenging given the proximity and lack of resources close to home. Helping families connect to the services they need, serving as the conduit and warm hand-off to service providers, is what we do best.  

Our supporters can also help the Foundation serve our community in many ways, such as volunteering to deliver groceries, joining our campaign committee, assisting with grant writing, joining our Board of Trustees, and making the Foundation your philanthropic priority. 

Mary Lyon herself believed everyone should have access to quality education. We will ensure all students are ready to learn, succeed, and thrive in service to her vision. Together, we can make a difference in our community to ensure that our children have the tools they need to flourish in the wider world.