A legend has left us. Her impact will carry on.
By Julie Barrett O’Brien, Executive Director
On May 1st, LookUp lost one of our most ardent champions, Ann Reynolds, Co-Founder and Believer in Chief.
Ann believed in LookUp’s mission. Truly believed. As a life-long educator and youth advocate, she knew that if we tapped into the energy, courage, creativity, and first-hand experience of students - then we could create a more authentic, humane, and kind society for generations to come.
Having Ann fully believe in your mission - with both her head and her heart - was an absolute honor and gift. I remember this moment as clear as if it were yesterday: Susan and I were sitting in the kitchen (good things always happen in a kitchen) talking to Ann and Jon about our plans for LookUp. Ann was standing at the counter and confidently declared “I believe and I’m in.” (I’m pretty sure it was a collective “I’m” - but Jon didn’t seem to mind.)
As our "Believer in Chief," Ann was the first person to tell a friend about our mission...and then the first person to tell 300 friends. She was the first person to sign up for our (virtual) youth events...and often the last person to hang up from the call. She was the first person to donate and the first person to raise money to advance our mission. Ann was often the first person to read our newsletters - and the first to tell Susan what she thought. She also challenged us when she thought we were creeping off-track and the first to encourage us to keep going. She was also the very first person Susan, her visionary daughter and Co-Founder, would turn to for support and candid advice.
I am blessed, lucky, humbled, grateful, and a far better person today than I was before I met Ann Reynolds. To say she will be sorely missed would be a gross understatement. The best thing we can do in her honor is to carry on - to keep finding and supporting those courageous youth leaders who are willing to step up and take action by challenging the digital ecosystem and our unrealistic social norms so we can level the playing field and improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people for generations to come.
I hope you will join us in celebrating Ann’s life. In her memory, we have established the Ann Reynolds Legacy Fund. A tribute gift would be much appreciated and gratefully received. Contributions can be made online, with a check, or in Stock. Details below.
We will all miss Ann, dearly. Thank you for helping her legacy and impact carry on.
Click here to make a tribute gift today.
Five Ways to Give to the Ann Reynolds Legacy Fund
ONLINE: www.lookup.live *Online donations may receive a confirmation from our fiscal sponsor, the Concord Carlisle Community Chest - 04-2157042 - They are 100% tax-deductible and restricted to LookUp.
CHECK: Payable to LookUp and mailed to PO Box 1571, Concord, MA 01742.
STOCK DONATION: Please contact Julie@LookUp.live, 617-834-9227.
CORPORATE MATCH: If your employer offers a matching gift program, your HR department can provide you with a matching gift form and instructions.
Grant: If needed, LookUp can prepare a grant request to support your gift. Contact Julie@lookup.live.
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes LookUp Incubator, Inc (DBA LookUp and LookUp.live) as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts to LookUp are tax-deductible in the United States. Our federal tax ID number is 84-2719205.
