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The Lyon Roars

New & Updates

Summer Programming Scholarship

The Mary Lyon Foundation funded $2,500 in summer scholarships to help bridge the gap for families who could not afford to send their children to local summer programs. Due to the deep poverty gap within western Franklin County, some families do not qualify for free or reduced lunch services but may struggle to afford childcare…

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United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region’s Blooming Backpack Drive:

The Mary Lyon Foundation partnered with the United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region for their annual Blooming Backpack Drive! The Foundation helped prepare MTRSD students for a new academic year by encouraging donations of new backpacks filled with essential school supplies such as notebooks, paper, pens, highlighters, and more. Thank you to all who…

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Relieving Students and Families of Financial Stress:

Austin Sullivan learned about the Mary Lyon Foundation in seventh grade, but it wasn’t until his senior year of high school in 2022 that he understood the impact of their services on the community. Now attending Westfield State University and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, as a first-generation college student, Austin received a laptop…

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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…

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Mary Lyon Foundation’s Agricultural Grant Funding Helps Build a Community Garden at Bug Hill Farm

No matter your financial situation, we all deserve access to affordable, fresh, local vegetables and food harvested with a bit of extra love and care. That’s why the Mary Lyon Foundation has a well-established partnership with Greenfield Cooperative Bank. The Foundation receives $750 annually in grant funding. This funding serves multiple purposes – helping to…

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Friends of the Foundation: Tom Miner, Local Optometrist & Co-Owner of Foxtown Diner

Meet Tom Miner, one of the Mary Lyon Foundation’s community partners! Tom owns the Foxtown Diner and serves as Shelburne’s resident optometrist through his local practice, The Optician. He first became involved with the Mary Lyon Foundation while it was under the direction of former Executive Director, Susan Samoriski. Through Sue, Tom discovered the essential…

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Board Member John Cornman Lives By Example

John Cornman firmly believes in the Mary Lyon Foundation’s mission of helping local families in need. That’s why he joined their Board of Trustees three years ago when he was recruited by the current Vice Chair, Peter Stevens. John was especially eager to get involved because of his family’s past dedication to the Foundation, and…

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Amanda Lane is On Her Way

Amanda Lane has never been easily discouraged or defeated. That’s why she founded the company Team Fit Vision Forward and serves as their CEO while caring for her two young boys as a stay-at-home mom. In 2015, Amanda uprooted her family, hoping to start over in a place that provided a strong community spirit and prioritizes…

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Warming Up the Community This Winter

The Mary Lyon Foundation is delighted to provide winter gear to our children and help families with extra costs associated with the cold weather. Together with local newspapers and service organizations, our Warm the Children program helps children access much-needed winter clothing and footwear. The Greenfield Recorder is our area sponsor, raising and distributing funds in Franklin…

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