Forty Carrots celebrates 20 years

Forty Carrots Family Center celebrated its 20th anniversary Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Nearly 60 members of the community, including volunteers, partnering agencies, board of trustees, donors and Forty Carrots families came together to thank one another for their contributions over the past 20 years. Executive director and Forty Carrots mother Michelle Kapreilian led the celebration.

Preschoolers sang songs on stage before Debby Johnson and Jean Lolli were recognized for their 20 years of service as part of the Forty Carrots staff. Johnson and Lolli have been with Forty Carrots since its founding in 1993 and hope to stay with the family center for another 20 years. Johnson took the stage with her daughter, Amber Morris, her granddaughter and Forty Carrots student Emma Morris.

The agency was founded in 1993 by Dianne Weiss and Betsy Kane Hartnett. Weiss and Hartnett dedicated their time to improving the lives of children by providing early-childhood-and-parenting education. Since its foundation, the nonprofit has strengthened more than 30,000 families and has educated 1,700 preschool children. Forty Carrots has partnered with 28 local agencies, through which it currently offers more than 800 free parenting classes per year.

“When I think of all the families Forty Carrots has served over the years, I am humbled and so incredibly thankful for the steadfast support of our partners and friends like you,” said Richard C. Lawrence, chairman of the Forty Carrots Board of Trustees.