To MMBay Volunteers, with Love

Dear MMBay Volunteers:

As we close out the school year, I want to thank you all for giving so much of your care and creative self to our mentees and to each other. What you do - whether in direct support of a mentee, behind-the-scenes in operations, or in a team leadership capacity - is in many ways immeasurable, because relationships are immeasurable. And in each of these roles, through every tendril of connection you've formed in this community, you have helped to weave the fabric of MMBay's remarkable culture.

We talk often of culture and community at MMBay, because you are in fact what makes us - and the service we provide students - truly unique among an endless ecosystem of nonprofits. The truth is, you can't really know the value of an organization's work, unless you spend time with the people who make it run, and observe how they (as a collective) meet each moment together. Which is why - inspired as we are by your excitement at the beginning of a year, we are prouder still of your resilience and commitment to us at the end of a year. You've weathered the ups and downs; you've seen how the sauce gets made. And still you're with us, ready to ride the next wave - as a team. That's how we know this relationship is real.

Thank you for all the time, effort, and attention you gave to fostering deep bonds with our mentees and with each other. Thank you for believing and persisting when a challenge seemed insurmountable. Thank you for working through conflict and disagreement. Thank you for giving help, and asking for help. Thank you for embracing the pursuit of excellence, even as you worked through imperfection. Through each and every one of these moments, you modeled for our mentees what we aspire to be. These are the memories that matter.

We won't forget,
Irene