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Maureen Alley, communications director
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malley@wisconsinyouthcompany.org
Fund Established to Support Employees After the Arrival of New Baby
Wisconsin Youth Company creates fund to honor longtime employee Mary McCarthy
Madison, Wisconsin (February 25, 2022) — Wisconsin Youth Company establishes a new fund to support employees as they return to work after the arrival of a new baby in honor of its longtime Director of Finance Mary McCarthy who is retiring after nearly 40 years with the organization. The Mary McCarthy Growing Families Fund carries Mary’s legacy of supporting employees and their families.
“I’m excited to continue the work Mary has done supporting WYC employees and their families with a fund in her honor. Mary always supported employees both work and personal life. She knew employees were more than the job held during the day,” says Rebecca Carlin, executive director.
During her tenure, McCarthy was well known for her advocacy and care for parents. From coordinating meal trains to sewing and installing curtains for new mothers so they would have privacy while nursing in their office, McCarthy helped ease the transition and find balance of being a parent at work.
McCarthy defined the WYC office with her open-arms policy. Any parents bringing a baby into the office knew that baby was no longer just theirs, it was a Wisconsin Youth Company baby. “You’d hear a baby cry, and within seconds you’d see Mary holding the baby. She was the baby whisperer,” says Kathy Smith, risk management director.
With this new fund, WYC plans to add changing tables at its Madison office; a cart with diapers and wipes; bouncy chair and cozy area for babies to sit with parents while they are in the office; privacy curtains; and provide meals when employees have a new child.
“When I had my son, it was challenging for me to balance work and having an infant in the office. Mary was always willing to listen and normalize the experience for me. She reassured me that I was doing OK and that I would figure it out. Even as my son grew, Mary always asked about him and was ready to hear a story or see a picture of him,” Carlin adds.
The Mary McCarthy’s Growing Families Fund will continue creating a welcoming, supportive space for employees as their families grow for many years to come.
Learn more and/or donate to the Mary McCarthy Growing Families Fund.
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