LYNNFIELD — Never underestimate the power of young people.
Prior to the onset of the pandemic, 160 9th and 10th grade confirmation candidates at Ave Maria Parish were in the middle of satisfying their community service projects.
All that ground to a halt when the coronavirus hit in mid-March, leaving the candidates in limbo — and in lockdown.
Enter Robyn Yannone, Ave Maria’s Adolescent Faith Formation Coordinator.
“Typically we do a community service-type project, but this year with COVID, we knew it was going to be a challenge to carry out anything we normally would do, like visiting nursing homes,” she said. “I knew that the Think of Michael Foundation (TOM) has a high school scholarship and thought that what we needed to do was find an activity that not only would support that, but would have a silver lining of spending time together as a family. That’s the real blessing.”
The Think of Michael Foundation is a registered 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping those individuals and their families who are struggling with substance use disorder.
Carmela and Dick Dalton, along with their children, Stacey and Jamie, established the foundation in June of 2019 after their 39-year-old son, Michael, died in 2018 from an opiate overdose while in outpatient treatment.
Yannone settled on a virtual 5K race for the group’s project. Candidates were free to choose any activity.
The only condition was that participants had to take selfies with their families, along with their start and finish times, and submit to Yannone. Participants had two weeks to complete their 5Ks. By the time they all reached their respective finish lines, a little more than $3,000 had been raised.
“I was amazed, nearly 99 percent of the kids participated,” said Yannone, who said there are 90 confirmation candidates in the 10th grade and 60 in the 9th. “I’m a big exercise guru, so the double benefit was kids getting outside and spending quality time with their families.
Yannone said some kids chose to do a hike, some at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus. Many walked Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield. Several candidates attending boarding schools also participated, many of them doing campus runs. Participants paid a $25 fee and every family member received a T-shirt, compliments of TOM.
“At first Robyn said let’s give the kids a T-shirt, and just felt everyone should get one,” said TOM President Carmela Dalton. “This was about families getting together so we wanted everyone to have one.”
The scholarship will be awarded in 2023 when the 10th graders are seniors. Yannone said she hopes to make the 5K an annual event.
“The goal is to have it again next year, hopefully in person and not virtually,” said Yannone. “The kids will organize it themselves and I guarantee it will be bigger and better. When you look at it, it was a win-win in that it got kids outside for some fresh air and gave families a chance to bond.”
“It’s a terrific story, really,” said Dick Dalton.
Dalton said the foundation was approached by Yannone, who said that due to the pandemic, confirmation candidates were unable to perform their community service requirements.
“She came up with the virtual road race idea, which she thought would raise money for a new scholarship for the members of the confirmation class when they are seniors,” said Dalton. “I told Robin I loved the idea, but never thought it would raise $3,000, and whenever she gave me that check last week, I was pretty stunned.”
“There was so much energy in this and the excitement levels just kept adding up,” said Yannone. “I think families were so happy to have an event like this where they could do something together, and for such a good cause. Everybody knows the Daltons and we consider ourselves fortunate to be able to have done even a little bit to help the good things they are doing with TOM. It also falls right in line with the Catholic faith position that the body is a gift and you need to take care of it. I just know I was so happy looking at all of the pictures of families, together, being so happy knowing they had helped.”
Carmela Dalton said the event did more than just raise money.
“The best part is that the kids were involved and it was a great family event in the community, so there definitely were multiple benefits. I know my daughter’s (Stacey Cook) family had a great time and, with the struggles people are going through, anything that helps people smile is a great thing.”
Ave Maria Parish was formed in July of 2020 following the merger of St. Maria Goretti Parish and the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.