Three Hampshire Alums Receive Nonprofit Excellence Award

Hampshire alums Mollie Hartford 01F, Lisa Dana Goding 88F, and Kate Lindroos-Conlin 04F and their nonprofit organization It Takes a Village were recently awarded the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network's Nonprofit Excellence Award in the Small Nonprofit category.

Since 2009, It Takes a Village has provided free postpartum and early parenting support to families with infants and young children living in Western Massachusetts, and inspired the community to welcome the newest members of their Village. What started with one neighbor supporting one mother has expanded into a Home Visit Program covering 29 towns, a donation and distribution center in Huntington, MA that has distributed over $600,000 worth of free maternity, infant, and children's clothing and gear, and a Parent Support and Education Program with drop-in support groups and a series of free educational workshops for parents.

"I want to thank you for recognizing the issue of family support as something worthy of an award," said Mollie Hartford, It Takes a Village's director of outreach and development, while accepting the award during a virtual ceremony Wednesday. "I imagine there are parents on this call who have felt judgement when they asked for help, so this gives me hope that that culture is shifting."

It Takes a Village was also recently recognized on the floor of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for its work.

Families looking for support and community members looking to get involved can learn more at www.HilltownVillage.org.

Pictured below: Mollie Hartford 01F, Lisa Dana Goding 88F, and Kate Lindroos-Conlin 04F