Annual Report
Lund’s Mission Lund helps children thrive by empowering families to break cycles of poverty, addiction, and abuse. Lund offers hope and opportunity to families through education, treatment, family support, and adoption.
Message from the CEO
As we mark 135 years of supporting children and families, I am reminded of the profound legacy that each generation of the Lund community has helped build. For more than a century, our work has evolved to meet the changing needs of our time—yet one thing has never changed: Children and families remain at the very center of everything we do.
This past year, more than 5,800 people were impacted by Lund’s services. Behind each one is a story—of hope, of opportunity, of family. In the pages ahead, you will see some of those stories reflected. They are powerful reminders of what is possible when compassion, expertise, and a belief in potential come together.
The ability to grow and adapt is part of Lund’s enduring legacy. Over the past year, we expanded our services by launching Parents as Teachers home visiting, and by adding new clinical supports to our Post Permanency Services Program (PPSP), providing ongoing support services to adoptive and guardianship families. These enhancements strengthen our continuum of care and deepen our commitment to meeting families where they are, with the tools and support they deserve.
This progress is possible only because of the shared commitment of our staff, donors, partners, and community. Together, we’ve built the strength to meet emerging needs while looking to the future. I’m proud to share that Lund is financially stable and intentionally shifting from a reactive approach to one rooted in proactive planning and resilience. This evolution allows us to invest more deeply in what matters most—the well-being and success of families.
I am honored every day to be part of Lund. Thank you for your belief in our mission and your partnership in creating brighter futures. Together, we carry forward 135 years of resilience and impact—and building the next chapter with hope.
Thank you for your continued support.
Liz Gamache President and CEO
Lund by the Numbers
5,800 PEOPLE IMPACTED
40,593 MEALS SERVED IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM
CLIENTS UNDER 18: 53%
CLIENTS SERVED IN TWO OR MORE PROGRAMS: 20% 20 PROGRAMS OFFERED
4,630 THERAPY HOURS CONDUCTED
LUND SERVES EVERY COUNTY IN VERMONT
Adoption
Options Counseling
Post-Permanency
Private Adoption
Project Family/Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
VT Adoption Registry/PACA
Parent Child Center
Early Childhood Education
Family Education
Kids-A-Part Parenting Program
DULCE
Parent Child Center Services
Supervised Visitation and Exchange
Home Visiting
Clinical Treatment
Community Outpatient Treatment
Residential Treatment
Regional Partnership Program
Hope Recovering Loudly:
A Story of Hope
This past year, a single idea changed the way we think about healing at Lund. It started with Ashlee Loyer, a graduate of our Residential Treatment Program, who spent a year here rebuilding her life alongside her young daughter. Ashlee had lost many people she loved to substance misuse—people who struggled in silence, carried shame, or feared asking for help. Their absence left a mark she couldn’t ignore.
Ashlee carried a phrase with her that helped her keep going: “Recover loudly so others stop dying quietly.”
It was more than inspiration—it was a call to action.
Ashlee wanted other mothers to know that help exists, that recovery is possible, and that they don’t have to hide their pain. She brought her idea to us:
What if we created a space where moms could safely share their stories? What if speaking out could save lives?
With grant support from the Vermont Department of Health, we launched Recovering Loudly: Stories of Moms in Recovery. We hired storyteller and facilitator Sue Schmidt to guide a group of mothers through a trauma-informed workshop designed to help them shape and share their experiences. By the end, six moms had crafted
stories that were honest, vulnerable, and full of hope.
Their voices matter more than ever now. According to Vermont’s Maternal Mortality Review Panel (2024), 100% of perinatal deaths in the state between October 2021 and early 2023 were related to substance use. Behind that statistic are families, babies, and mothers who deserved support, connection, and compassion.
Lund has been supporting pregnant and parenting people since 1890. Although our services have evolved, one element has remained the same: We walk beside people during the most challenging moments of their lives. Recovering Loudly is a continuation of that promise.
For Ashlee, the heart of the project is simple:
“I hope other moms understand that there is a way out. There
are people who want to help you. The world is changing when it comes to mental health and substance use. I feel less stigma now, and it’s not as scary to ask for help.”
She also knows what silence can cost.
“I’ve lost a lot of people in my life—especially since I’ve been in recovery. Many died because they were ashamed to talk about slipping or relapsing. Because of that, they’re gone. That’s why I speak up. If we recover loudly, others won’t die quietly.”
Recovering Loudly is a reminder that stories can open doors, soften stigma, and help mothers feel seen. It is hope—spoken out loud.
Scan the QR code to watch the stories.
Opportunity
Building the Childcare Workforce
At Lund’s Early Childhood Education Program (LECP), opportunity begins with access. LECP is a therapeutic, fullday, year-round early care and education program serving children from birth to age 6 and their families. More than 60% receive full or partial tuition subsidies. Many are also connected to Lund’s Clinical Treatment and Parent Child Center services, creating multiple layers of support.
Like other childcare programs in Vermont, LECP has faced significant recent workforce challenges, forcing difficult decisions, including reducing childcare spots when families need care most. To respond, Lund looked to strengthen the workforce and the community.
With a grant from Building Bright Futures, Lund launched the Pathways for New Americans program, which supports entry into early childhood education through paid training, mentorship, and education. There, we met Gita.
After arriving in Vermont from Nepal when she was 15, Gita graduated high school, got married, and welcomed two children. She wanted meaningful work that would support her family, so she enrolled.
The opportunity allowed her to explore her passion for working
with children while building skills and confidence. She interned in three different classrooms with a mentor teacher offering guidance and support.
Although covering the full cost of childcare remains a challenge, Gita knows her son is surrounded by people she trusts. “I wouldn’t be able to work if my child couldn’t come here,” she shares. “Without school, there’d be no way to work.”
Today, Gita works with infants and finds joy in the defining moments of early childhood, something she never takes for granted.
“Seeing firsts,” she says when asked what she enjoys most. “First time sitting up. First time walking.”
Six paid trainees completed Pathways for New Americans. Four now work at Lund, and one is
working at another local childcare program. Pathways also allowed LECP to add four new infant spaces, creating needed access for more families.
Meanwhile, Gita continues to build her future, working toward an associate degree in early childhood education at CCV. She hopes her story encourages others to take the first step.
“I think people from different cultures can be scared to try things they want to do,” she says. “There are resources here. People will help you be successful. Don’t think, ‘I can’t do anything.’ Try things that are important to you.”
At Lund, opportunity means more than filling positions. It means creating pathways—to meaningful work, high-quality childcare, and stronger futures for families and communities.
Through Lund’s independent work and our efforts with partners at the Department for Children and Families, we finalized 267 adoptions last year. On any given day, however, there are still nearly 100 Vermont children waiting for families. Most are school-aged. Many have special needs. Some are part of sibling groups who want to stay together.
All deserve safety, a feeling of belonging, and someone who will be there for them—now and later in life.
Adoption is not an event. It doesn’t begin or end with a signature. It is a lifelong journey that looks different for every child, shaped by relationships, trust, and the steady presence of people who don’t give up—people like Mark.
As a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter, Mark makes crucial connections happen. His job title is simple, but the work is complex: finding permanent families for children in foster care who do not yet have permanency. Mark works primarily with ages 12 and up—children often overlooked in adoption.
“Kids come into foster care because something happened. Every one has survived some level of neglect or abuse. Every one deserves a family, to be safe,” he explains, noting he worries about those who age out without permanency. “The outcomes are so much harder. They don’t have the same
supports or someone to call when things fall apart—or even when things go right.”
Finding families requires patience, persistence, and creativity. Mark searches public records, sometimes uncovering previously unknown family connections. Above all, he builds relationships and earns the trust of young people who might not expect consistency from adults.
“That’s my strength,” he says. “Finding connections with kids when it feels almost impossible.”
One young man worked with Mark long after most youth would give up, convinced no one would adopt a teenager. He felt he was too old, that foster care was safer than hoping. Mark worked with him for more than a year to help him believe.
“I helped him understand adoption isn’t just about now,” Mark says. “It’s about having someone when
you go to college. Or later, when you need someone to talk to.”
Finally, at age 17, the young man was adopted. From the first visit, he and his adoptive family clicked. A mere seven months later, the adoption was final.
“When it was finalized, he gave me a hug,” Mark remembers. “He was really saying, ‘I’m glad you convinced me.’
“That’s the fuel,” Mark says of those moments that keep him going, proof that the effort is worthwhile. “When you realize you’ve helped make a change, maybe even changed someone’s whole world .”
At Lund, being family-focused means committing to children and families for the long term. It means believing in young people who have lost hope. Above all, it means holding on to the truth that every child—no matter their age, history, or circumstances— deserves a family.
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 5 PM
Hula | 50 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401
For 135 years, Lund has offered hope and opportunity to families across Vermont. We invite you to join us for Lund by the Lake, an evening by Lake Champlain celebrating Lund’s legacy, its impact, and the community that makes its work possible.
This year’s event will place a special focus on adoption, a cornerstone of Lund’s history and mission. Together, we will honor Wanda Audette, former director of adoption, and celebrate the finalization of Lund’s 12,000th adoption, a remarkable milestone in Lund’s history.
RSVP and donate to this year’s Lund by the Lake. Visit givebutter.com/lundbythelake or use the QR code.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
“
” Thank you so much for the wonderful gifts we received from you and all the others from Lund....Everything we received we are very grateful for. It was another tough year and it’s nice to see that other people care.
-Lund’s JOY Drive Gift Giving Program Recipient
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
This past year has been one of growth, made possible by the shared commitment of our staff, board, donors, partners, and community. Because of you, more families can access the support they need, and more children have the chance to thrive.
Your support makes a difference for Vermont families— it’s transforming lives.
Board of Trustees
Darren Springer
Chair
Karen Vastine
Vice Chair
Lucy Abair
Secretary
John Hollar
Treasurer
Maribeth Spellman
Compliance Officer
Adam Bunting
Paige Church
Hal Cohen
Zachary Key
Valerie Nikel
Meg O’Brien
Kimberlee Phelps
Hayden Pochop
Erin Regan
Emily Smith
Laura Taylor
Lisa Tiffin
Anna Walls
Chris Yager
Leadership Team
Liz Gamache
President and CEO
Timothy Keefe
Chief Financial Officer
Kim Laroche
Director of Parent Child Center Services
Howie LeBlanco
Director of People and Culture
Yvonne Lockerby
Director of Operations
Sam Rhoads Director of Clinical Treatment Services
Karisa Thompson
Director of Adoption
50 Joy Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403 | 802-864-7467 | lundvt.org
