Mary Lyon Foundation Celebrates Reaching $5 Million Milestone for Student Success

Shelburne Falls, MA, October 24, 2025 – The Mary Lyon Foundation (MLF) is proud to announce that it has officially met its $5 million Campaign for Student Success goal, marking a transformative moment for education, equity, and community well-being in West County.

Launched in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, the Campaign for Student Success was born from a simple but urgent truth: students can’t learn if their basic needs aren’t met. As schools pivoted between remote and hybrid learning, the Foundation saw firsthand how food insecurity, lack of internet access, and economic instability placed unprecedented strain on families and educators. The campaign was designed to strengthen the Foundation’s ability to meet these challenges head-on and ensure that every child in West County can learn, succeed, and thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

Since launching the campaign, the Foundation has significantly increased its influence across the nine towns it serves. Over the last four years, it has distributed thousands of vital items, including winter coats, boots, eyeglasses, backpacks, books, and meals. Additionally, it has funded hundreds of classroom mini-grants and educator innovation initiatives. These efforts have aided the region’s most vulnerable students and enabled teachers to reintroduce creativity and joy into their classrooms.

“When I first stepped into this role in 2021, our schools and communities were still finding their footing after immense disruption,” said Kristen Tillona-Baker, Chief Executive Officer. “Since then, we’ve witnessed remarkable resilience. Our programs have flourished, and we’ve supported more students and families than we ever thought possible. Reaching this milestone reflects the strength and generosity of our community and what we can achieve together.” 

To celebrate this milestone, the Foundation hosted a Campaign Celebration Party on September 11, 2025, at Red Gate Farm in Ashfield, MA. The evening brought together donors, Board Members, and staff for a night of gratitude and reflection, featuring live music by saxophonist Loren Feinstein, locally sourced fare by Bash Catering, and heartfelt remarks honoring the supporters who made this achievement possible.

Funds raised through the Campaign for Student Success are already making a lasting difference:

• Securing the Foundation’s future through a $5 million endowment that will sustain programs for generations to come. 

• Expanding access to essential resources such as health and wellness services, after-school enrichment, and emergency student assistance. 

• Empowering educators with classroom mini-grants, professional development, and support for innovation.

“This campaign demonstrates what can happen when a community rallies around its children,” said Tillona-Baker. “Every gift helped open doors for students—to learn, to grow, and to feel supported. Meeting our goal is a reason to celebrate, but our mission continues. There are still students who need our help, and we hope our community will stay by our side as we keep building opportunity across West County.”

To learn more or make a donation, please visit https://marylyonfoundation.org/.

Photo Caption: Members of the Mary Lyon Foundation’s Board of Directors, staff, and donors gathered at Red Gate Farm in Ashfield to celebrate reaching the $5 million Campaign for Student Success goal. 

#

The Mary Lyon Foundation (MLF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1990 to support all aspects of quality education in the rural hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. Serving the communities of Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, Rowe, and Shelburne, MLF works to ensure that every student has the resources to be ready to learn, succeed in school, and thrive in the wider world. Through strategic partnerships and community investment, the Foundation empowers students and their families by advocating for programs and services that meet their academic and basic needs.