Over $70,000 was raised on April 30th from a full day of events celebrating Lund’s 125th birthday. A beautiful sunny day and river views at the Waterworks restaurant in the Champlain Mill in Winooski was the location of three parties: a legacy luncheon, ice cream social and evening party. Attendance for the day was over 300 grownups and children and raised over $70,000 through business sponsorships, ticket sales and a silent auction. Generous support from NorthCountry Federal Credit Union as the celebration’s major sponsor helped make this a great success.
The Legacy Luncheon guest speakers brought Lund’s history and success front and center. Dr. Carol Lee Phillips, former Lund pediatrician, Kathy Richards, adoptive parent and Maghon Luman, former Lund client told their stories. Dr Phillips shared that Lund has changed over the years to respond to community need but has never lost sight of the very heart of the work of protecting women and children. Kathy spoke of her journey from foster parent to adoptive parent of her two sons, and Maghon told her story of overcoming addiction and turning her life around through opportunities provided by Lund. “Lund opened the door. They allowed me hope. They allowed me to pick up the pieces of my life and put them back together.”
An ice cream social open to the public followed with Ben and Jerry ice cream, Joey the Clown, bubbles, music and fun in the sun on the Waterworks patio.
Marcelle Leahy, Honorary Chair of the evening Birthday Party Bash, spoke with her husband Senator Patrick Leahy at her side. She related the devastating effects of opiate abuse on Vermont families. “For too long, substance abuse has been seen as a “big city” problem. Here in Vermont, where our rural communities create additional hurdles to access to treatment and prevention programs, I am grateful that Lund is carrying an important role to help women and families receive the treatment they need. You open your doors and your hearts to these moms and their children. It is inspiring.”
Chair of the 125th Committee, Susan Nostrand of Charlotte said, “The families that Lund serves are part of the larger communities in which we all live and work. This event showed us that our communities want to share the responsibility for ensuring all families get the support and services they need. We are so grateful to everyone who attended and sponsored the event.”
