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As a student, Laura never imagined someday being an active donor. Her arrival in South Hadley came in the aftermath of family upheaval. Increased scholarship support and an attached waitressing job helped her to make ends meet.

Mount Holyoke changed everything, said Laura Khoudari ’00. It is where she came into her voice. And she brings that voice to her work today as a certified personal trainer who incorporates a trauma-sensitive approach to strength training.

Linda Brandt Fritzinger ’62 is honoring Mount Holyoke’s commitment to women through a generous bequest. Her hope is that the gift will help sustain the College’s legacy of graduating students who believe in themselves.

“I believe in education and I believe in Mount Holyoke,” said Linda Cadigan ’68, who went on to a career in fundraising. “I would tell anyone there’s no experience in higher education comparable to going to a women’s college.”

Each member of the Mary Lyon Society — over 1,600 individuals and counting — has a unique story. These are stories of generosity and planning, gratitude and determination, pride and excitement. No two are the same, but they share a common thread: every Mary Lyon Society member is invested in Mount Holyoke’s future. As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Mary Lyon Society, we are proud to share the voices of some of these remarkable members.

For Maria Mossaides ’73, the decision to establish a deferred charitable gift annuity wasn’t just about supplementing her income later in life.

“Mount Holyoke connected me to a world that gave me access to the impossible,” said Mary Ann Villarreal ’94, the first in her family to attend college. “I give back because I felt like Mount Holyoke was my home and I want other people to find their home too.”

In her Mount Holyoke classes, Meg Harlor ’65, then known as Mickey Herz, always knew that her voice would be heard.

For former student-athlete Nancy G. Rosoff ’78, “being part of a team is magical.” She is helping to continue Mount Holyoke’s winning streak by supporting the Friends of Athletics Endowment in her estate plans and giving future students access to empowering opportunities.

Norma Barrett ’04 is determined to help Mount Holyoke continue to open doors for women who are defying the odds.