Issuu

2026

ANNUAL REPORT JULY 1, 2025 – JUNE 30, 2026

Table of Contents:

Our Mission

Lund strengthens families so children can thrive.

Message from Liz Gamache and John Hollar

Lund by the Numbers

Our Reach

Hope: Turning a Flicker of Self-Belief into a Flame

Opportunity: The Gift of Time

Family: Support Where Parenting Happens the Most

Lund by the Lake and Kennedy-Byers Award

JOY Drive

Financials

Staff and Board

Lund means something different to everyone in our community. For a caregiver, Lund may be a trusted partner during a vulnerable time. For a child, it may be a safe place and a caring adult. For an adoptive family, it may be support that continues long after a child finds a permanent home. For a community partner or donor, Lund may be an organization they believe in and a way to make a difference for Vermont families. While Lund may mean different things to different people, our purpose is shared: strengthening families so children can thrive. At the heart of our work is a child. We know children do best when the adults who care for them have the support, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. What makes Lund unique is our ability to surround families with coordinated and compassionate care. Whether a family comes to us through adoption, clinical treatment, or Parent Child Center services, we can connect them with the support they need, all in one place. As their needs change, we can help them access additional services without asking them to start over somewhere new. Over the past year, we continued to strengthen this network of care. Thanks to a national grant from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, we added a new clinician to our adoption team, expanding trauma-informed support for adoptive families. More children with incarcerated parents received

support and connection through the expansion of our Kids-A-Part parenting program to fathers at Northern State Correctional Facility. This spring, we launched the first cohort of the First Steps Training Program, creating a low-barrier pathway into Vermont’s early childhood education workforce. This past year, Lund supported more than 6,000 Vermonters. Throughout this report, you’ll meet families whose stories show what is possible when they have access to the care and support they need. We hope these stories give you a glimpse of the many ways Lund is strengthening families across Vermont. If you are inspired by what you read, we invite you to consider making a gift to Lund. The care and support families receive today often reaches further than we can see, shaping stronger families, stronger communities, and brighter futures for generations to come. Thank you for believing in Lund and for being part of this community.

Liz Gamache, Lund President and CEO

John Hollar, Board Chair 1

Lund by the Numbers 6,072

PEOPLE IMPACTED

PROGRAMS OFFERED

82%

OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO LUND ENROLLED IN SERVICES

145

TOWNS SERVED 2

280

PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED

71,070

MEALS SERVED ACROSS PROGRAMS

Our Reach

Lund offers a variety of programs that serve children and families across the state. Here’s a snapshot of our impact:

ADOPTION

NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS FINALIZED: 179

LUND SERVES EVERY COUNTY IN VERMONT

Lund’s adoption services support the whole family—children, biological parents, adoptive parents, caregivers, and relatives. As a fullspectrum adoption agency, with 135 years of experience and 12,000 adoptions completed, we guide families through every stage of the adoption journey. Our approach ensures families are supported with resources, guidance, and community. Every child deserves a safe and loving family, because family is a right—not a privilege.

See page 12 for a full list of our programs.

CLINICAL TREATMENT

PARENT CHILD CENTER

TOTAL THERAPY HOURS: 5,091

NUMBER OF FAMILIES SERVED: 828

Lund’s clinical treatment services provide a continuum of care that meets families where they are, breaks down barriers to access, and builds connections that strengthen families and communities. Through a holistic approach to mental health and substance use recovery, we help families heal, grow, and thrive—together.

From pregnancy through early childhood, Lund’s Parent Child Center is a welcoming place families can turn to for parenting support, resources, early childhood education, and playful opportunities to connect with other families! Our services encourage safe and stable relationships and environments that are critical to helping children thrive.

Hope

Turning a Flicker of Self-Belief into a Flame

The Regional Partnership Program (RPP) is a collaboration between Lund, the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), and the Vermont Department of Health’s Division of Substance Use Programs. The program provides timely substance use screenings, referrals, and connections to treatment for caregivers involved with DCF. Last year, RPP staff served 488 caregivers across Vermont. By working alongside DCF and community partners, RPP caseworkers identify concerns early, connect caregivers with services, and help reduce the barriers that can stand between families and the treatment they need. For Tatum, a Lund RPP Substance Use Case Manager, that work is about much more than making a referral. It’s about building trust, understanding what a parent needs in the moment, and helping them navigate the complicated path to treatment and recovery. One recent client, Stashia, stands out to Tatum as an example of what can happen when the right support reaches a family at the right time. Stashia was struggling with substance misuse and facing significant challenges while caring for her young son. Through an early screening, Tatum recognized that additional support was needed and worked quickly to connect her with appropriate treatment. Due to Tatum’s close collaboration with the community providers

supporting Stashia and her son, she was able to coordinate a seamless transition from inpatient care to residential treatment. “I knew she believed she could be a good mom,” Tatum says. “I wanted to keep that flame of hope alive and let her know that I believed in her, too.” Stashia credits that belief with saving her life and giving her hope for the first time. “They knew it was life or death and they really pushed me [to start treatment]. I’d been feeling so worthless, useless, and I didn’t care if I lived or died.” That belief is an important part of Tatum’s approach to casework. RPP is designed to meet caregivers where they are, while helping them take the next step toward stability and recovery. For Tatum, that can mean coordinating between treatment providers, DCF, health care professionals, and community organizations. It can mean helping a caregiver overcome practical barriers that might otherwise prevent them from accessing care. And sometimes, it simply means

reminding someone that their circumstances do not define their future. In Stashia’s case, the community also played an important role. Community meal providers, response workers, law enforcement, recovery coaches, and other supports remained engaged and continued to have hope for her. “Everyone in our community saw her potential,” Tatum says. “Nobody had given up on her, no matter how bad things seemed.” Today, Stashia is actively engaged in recovery and focused on building a healthy life with her son. Her journey continues to have difficult days, but she has a network of people and services supporting her along the way. For Tatum, Stashia’s story is a powerful reminder of why the RPP model matters. “Working with her gave me a tremendous amount of hope, not just for her individual journey in recovery, but for Lund’s ability to rally around someone in partnership with our community and turn a flicker of self-belief into a flame.” 5

Opportunity

The Gift of Time

On any given day in Vermont, about 100 children are waiting to be adopted, each hoping to find their forever home. At Lund, we are committed to helping those children find their forever families through Project Family, our partnership with the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF). This work is further strengthened through our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, funded by a grant from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®. Through this grant, Lund’s dedicated staff do research and outreach to find permanent homes for children who have been waiting the longest. There are moments that can change the course of a life. For Em, one of those moments was walking up to a front door and seeing a doormat that said, “Wizards welcome, muggles tolerated.” It was a small detail, but it made her feel instantly seen and at home. After years of uncertainty, including being let down by her first adoptive parents and placed back in foster care, Em had promised herself she would never be adopted again. That began to change when Em was connected with Lund’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) recruiter, Macie. Alongside foster parent Marissa, Macie gave Em something she hadn’t experienced in a while: time, patience, and space to decide what permanency meant for her.

Rather than rushing the process, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption WWK model gave Em the time she needed. Macie shifted her case into “monitoring,” creating space for trust to grow until Em was ready to take the next step. She was adopted by Marissa at age 15. For Macie, legal permanency is “a sure thing you’re not going anywhere. You are a part of a family, you belong forever.” Today, Em is thriving with the stability of a permanent family. “Being able to wake up in the same place every day is surreal. It is something I have dreamed of for a long time and lost hope for many times along the way. And to be able to experience it and know it’s not going anywhere is immeasurable,” Em shared.

Marissa has watched that sense of belonging transform Em’s future. “At the end of sophomore year, [Em] said ‘I want to go to college I think.’ She’s decided on a major she wants to pursue. Her grades are amazing, high honors. I think she feels more like she has a support network now. I still look at her and I am in awe. She’s so much the same kid, but she’s such a different kid all at the same time,” reflected Marissa. Lund’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters are helping more young people find what every child deserves: a place to call home forever.

Scan the QR code to watch more of Em and Marissa’s story. 7

Family

Support Where Parenting Happens Most

Lund offers Parents as Teachers (PAT), an internationally recognized, evidence-based home visiting program that provides caregivers with child development information and practical tools to support their parenting journey. Lund’s Parent Educators partner with families in their homes to set goals, strengthen parent-child interactions, build knowledge of early childhood development, and enhance overall family wellbeing. In FY26, PAT provided 249 personal visits to families. Shyann was adopted from Liberia as a baby, but her adoptive family was unable to provide a safe home. She grew up experiencing physical and verbal abuse, an experience that shaped the difficult decisions she later faced as a parent.

when I didn’t have extra money saved, and made it possible for me to focus on caring for him.” Shyann says the PAT program has made her feel less alone and more supported while leaving room for her to care for her son using her own values.

When Shyann became pregnant unexpectedly, she initially decided to make an adoption plan. A few days after her son’s birth, however, she changed her mind and chose to raise him herself. Knowing she had not prepared for parenthood, she reached out for support. Shyann connected with Lund’s PCC Outreach Specialist for concrete supports, and was then referred to PAT. “Because I wasn’t expecting to raise him, I hadn’t read parenting books or prepared, so Parents as Teachers has been a great support. Lund helped with diapers, clothes, and guidance

“PAT offers suggestions without judgment, rather than telling me what to do or making me feel like a bad mom. It’s been helpful to have support that respects my parenting style and allows me to do things my way.” While raising an active and busy 13-month-old can be overwhelming for any parent, Shyann stays focused on her goals, for her son and herself. “He has reached his goals, with crawling, and is starting to walk and learning to talk. I’ve reached my goals too: getting an apartment and a car. My next goal is to continue my education.

I was homeschooled and did not earn my high school diploma, so I’m working toward a degree that will help me earn more.” Between work, continuing her education, and raising an energetic one-year-old, Shyann has a full life. “I knew raising my son would be hard, but we are doing okay. We have food on the table, and we are making it work.” Shyann is grateful for the support and encouragement she’s received to keep moving forward. For other parents who need support, Shyann recommends connecting with Parents as Teachers and Lund. “PAT is helpful whether you want to connect with other parents, learn more about your baby’s needs, or get extra help when you need it.”

SAVE THE DATE Thursday, May 6, 2027 | 5 PM at Hula Join us to celebrate Lund’s legacy and impact, recognizing the amazing community of support that helps transform lives daily.

KENNEDY-BYERS AWARD

Liz Gamache, Jeanne Kennedy, Wanda Audette, and Sara Byers

“Behind each of Lund’s 12,000 finalized adoptions is a family whose life has been forever changed. Honoring Wanda Audette with this award is especially meaningful, as her leadership, advocacy and heart have shaped countless families and lives through her work at Lund.” - Sara Byers, at Lund by the Lake 2026

JOY Drive

Lund’s Holiday Gift Giving Program

Volunteers from UVM Athletics Department

“My kids received everything they asked for, and the gift cards will go a long way in helping our family. I’m moved to tears by the generosity of this community.” Interested in participating in JOY Drive this holiday season? Contact Emily Hecker emilyh@lundvt.org.

GIFT GIVING 2025

ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES PARTICIPATED

VOLUNTEERS

3,000+

GIFTS DONATED AND DISTRIBUTED

500+

INDIVIDUALS SERVED 11

Financials Lund fiscal year: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Unaudited) For additional financial information, visit lundvt.org/about-lund/publications-and-financial-documents.

Development

4% Programming

77%

Administration

OPERATING EXPENSES:

19%

$12,625,859

LUND’S PROGRAMS Adoption: •O ptions Counseling •P ost Permanency Support Program •P rivate Adoption •P roject Family •V ermont Adoption Registry •P ost Adoption Contact Consultation Clinical Treatment: •O utpatient Clinical Treatment •R esidential Treatment Program •R egional Partnership Program

Earnings from Investments

Fees for Service

74%

Development

14% Use of Reserve Funds

Government Contracts and Grants

OPERATING REVENUE:

$12,585,863

Parent Child Center: •L und’s Early Childhood Education Program •H ome Visiting •K ids-A-Part •D ULCE •S upervised Visitation and Exchange •P arent Child Center Outreach

Thank you from the Lund Staff and Board

Lund’s All Staff Celebration (October 2025)

Lund has 147 dedicated staff members located throughout the state of Vermont. Board of Trustees

Leadership Team

John Hollar Chair

Adam Bunting

Karen Vastine Vice Chair

Hal Cohen

Lucy Abair Secretary

Zachary Key

Meg O’Brien Treasurer Darren Springer Immediate Past Chair

Paige Church Louise Gibbs Valerie Nikel Kimberlee Phelps Hayden Pochop Erin Regan Emily Smith Maribeth Spellman Laura Taylor Lisa Tiffin Anna Walls Chris Yager

Liz Gamache President and CEO Emily Hecker Director of Advancement Timothy Keefe Chief Financial Officer Kim Laroche Director of Parent Child Center Services Howie LeBlanco Director of People and Culture Yvonne Lockerby Chief Operations and Compliance Officer Karisa Thompson Director of Adoption Sam Rhoads Director of Clinical Treatment Services 13

WAYS TO SUPPORT LUND Make a gift to advance Lund’s mission of strengthening families so children can thrive Make a Gift:

Volunteer:

Scan the QR code or visit lundvt.org/give. To discuss planned giving, contact Emily Hecker at 802-861-2580.

Reach out to volunteer@lundvt.org to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Stay Connected Sign up for our newsletter.

Event Sponsorship: To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Emily Hecker, Director of Advancement, at emilyh@lundvt.org.

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