Children & Education | Home & Family | Women & Opportunity | Impact & Equity

Education is where opportunity begins, and when children are supported early, the impact can last a lifetime.

When children fall behind early, the gap does not just follow them through school. It can follow them through life. I have always been drawn to work that protects that moment when learning can still change everything.

Through a pro bono initiative supporting Horizons National, I worked alongside Penn alumni to help underserved students in the Greater Philadelphia School District avoid “summer slide,” the loss of reading progress that can happen when school is out and support disappears. Our focus was simple: expand access to safe, supportive learning environments where children could read, learn, build confidence, and feel seen. One effort resulted in securing an additional partner school campus, expanding reach to more students who needed it most.

In another effort, Every Kid Needs a New Book, the goal was deeply personal. Each child received a brand-new, age-appropriate book chosen just for them, not a donation, but their book. Teachers received books for shared reading, and families facing hardship were supported so the season felt less heavy. The message to every child was clear: you matter, and your learning matters.

I am drawn to this work because education does not just change outcomes for one student. It strengthens families, expands futures, and can break cycles across generations. When children are given the tools to learn, they are also given the dignity to believe in what is possible.