These two men believe 'human potential' is too precious to waste

PRIME October 2012 By Debbie Gardner debbieg@thereminder.com For York Mayo and Bob Perry, both of Wilbraham, finding a way to make a difference for others seems to come naturally. Volunteers for several nonprofit organizations – Mayo has worked for Goodwill Industries, Girls Inc. of Holyoke, Habitat for Humanity and the Roger L. Putnam Technical Fund, and Perry for Habitat, the Scantic Valley YMCA and the Putnam Technical Fund – they share a strong sense of social responsibility coupled with an energy and focus that was immediately evident when PRIME spoke to the pair about their philanthropic work in Western Massachusetts. "We have so many blessings," Perry said. "We have the financial wherewithal . and we have the sense that we need to give back." The pair started collaborating back in 2000 when Mayo – who had recently retired from his position as senior vice president for Sales and Marketing at the former American Saw & Manufacturing Company in East Longmeadow – became a volunteer with Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. He wasn't involved with the organization long when it became clear the nonprofit needed help with its financials. A mutual friend at Habitat introduced him to Perry, who was a partner with the accounting firm of Meyers Bros, Kalica. "Bob is a certified public accountant," Mayo said. "Habitat needed someone who knew what he was talking about." Mayo – who would eventually serve as executive director of Habitat – invited Perry to lunch. By the end of the meal Perry had agreed to become the volunteer treasurer for Habitat. "Little did we know that the lunch would lead to years of working together," Perry, who spent 10 years on Habitat's Board of Directors and is now the organization's executive director, said with a chuckle. The pair's latest collaboration is a life-changer for four recent high school graduates from the greater Springfield area. Since 2011, Mayo and Perry have devoted a considerable amount of their time, effort, connections and resources to the Millbrook Scholar's Program – a fledgling nonprofit organization with the goal of insuring that young men with potential, but difficult home circumstances get the opportunity to attend college. It started with one kid in need Mayo said the idea grew out of a request he received while working as a volunteer at Springfield's Roger L. Putnam Technical High School. Dr. J. Mark Jackson, a counselor at the school, said he had a bright, committed young man – a junior at Putnam – who was struggling to stay in school through graduation because of a bad home environment, which included drugs and gang involvement. "Mark asked me if I knew anyone who could help," Mayo said, adding that he immediately contacted Jim Goodwin, director of the Center for Human Development (CHD). Goodwin was able to arrange for the student – who was already holding down a part-time job in addition to attending classes – to get into an apartment. CHD was also able to provide a weekly income supplement of $35 to help cover living expenses. It became a mission Mayo said that student's situation got he and Jackson thinking about other young men with potential who also lacked the kind of supportive home life most students take for granted. "We found out there were a lot of other students in Springfield and the surrounding area like this young man," Mayo said. "So, we decided to start an organization that would help boys that had the right attitude and wanted to learn [by] providing [them] with room and board and a scholarship." The idea was to provide a "safety net" for these students and "help these scholars make something out of themselves." Jackson and Mayo began by looking for individuals to serve on an advisory board for their new project. The first person Mayo called was Perry. "When York gets a call to get something started, I'm usually the second or third call," Perry joked. "Part of the reason York and I work so well together is that York is a visionary, and I'm a problem solver and an implementer," he continued, noting that while Mayo was at the helm of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the organization built six houses. Since he took over as executive director two years ago, the organization has built 13. The three approached Steve McCafferty, then executive director of the Children's Study Home (CSH), and presented their idea for a residential scholarship program for disadvantaged boys who wanted to attend college. "Their mission and our ideas seemed to align," Perry said, adding that McCafferty was able to "provide us with a umbrella organization so we didn't have to start our own 501(c)(3) nonprofit." Mayo said he and Perry soon rounded out the project's advisory board with the addition of Bobbie Pitkin, a local realtor who helped them secure a house for the scholars; Deborah Basile, an attorney with Doherty, Wallace, Pilsbury and Murphy, P. C., who advised them on the necessary legal documents; Kamari Collins, director of Academic Advising at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), who helped with education issues; Jane Hertzel, a retired pediatric nurse and Lizzy Ortiz, housing retention coordinator for the City of Springfield. Eliza Cresentini, newly appointed CSH director, recently replaced McCafferty on the board. And eventually, a reality "It was a year in the making," Perry said of what eventually became known as the Millbrook Scholar's Program. "We started in June of 2010, and our first scholar moved in in August of 2011, in time to start the semester at STCC." During that year of development, Mayo said the Millbrook Program had to overcome several obstacles, including securing a place to house the boys. When no bank was willing to finance the five-bedroom house the two men located in 16 Acres, Mayo said Perry put up the money to purchase it himself, arranging to lease the property back to the CSH at cost. They also worked together to raise $150,000 from private individuals and foundations to cover what they estimated would be the first two years of expenses for the program. "Bob and I have an extensive network of contacts," Mayo said. Perry added that the program is basically funded through June of 2013. The CSH lease on the house expires in June 2014. Jackson identified the program's initial pair of scholars – Nick and Stephen, both of Springfield, two Putnam graduates hoping to attend STCC – and moved into the house for a short time as the first residential advisor. The second two scholar slots were selected from a pool of applicants recommended by school administrators, teachers, coaches and guidance counselors from Springfield high schools and STCC. To be accepted as Millbrook Scholars, Mayo said the boys had to go through an extensive application process that included an essay outlining their vision for their future, and agree to a very strict set of guidelines. "They have to not have a criminal record, be drug free, alcohol free, and [exhibit] the right attitude," Mayo said. The scholars also have to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA), hold down a part-time job and adhere to a daily study and tutoring schedule. Mayo and Perry have also matched the scholars – which this fall number four, Nick and Stephen from Springfield, Brandon, originally from East Longmeadow and Derick from Connecticut – with mentors working in the career field each scholar hopes to pursue. "Every week the four [boys] meet with their mentors," Mayo said, adding that Nick, who is a criminal justice major, talks with his mentor, a Springfield police officer, nearly every day. Mayo and Perry have also secured tutors who assist the boys with homework Sunday through Thursday evenings; retired schoolteacher Helen Kidess tutors them in English, and Bill Leslie, an actuary from MassMutual, assists them with math. "That's the heart of it," Mayo said of the 7 to 10 p.m. "study hall" that takes place at the house five nights a week. TV, video games, even cell phones are prohibited during these study hours. "These boys never had anything like this [at home]," he added. Making a difference Nick summed up what being a Millbrook Scholar meant for he and his fellow housemates. "I used to live in a bad environment. This is more stable," he said. "It's good to not have to worry about food. [Here] I have people who have my back . when we need anything, they are there to help. "School is very important to me," Nick continued. "It's important [to me] to have a place where I can stay focused [on learning]. It's a plus in my book." Perry noted that all four scholars – three of whom are also members of the STCC wrestling team – have so far exceeded the program's 2.5 GPA requirements. "They were all over 3.0 [for] both the first and second semesters and summer school classes," Perry said, adding that there is now a friendly competition in the house when it comes to grades. "It's a better environment being here. I'm more focused [on school] being here in this house," Derick said. "It's a stepping stone to put me on track." He also said Mayo and Perry helped him to get a part-time job in an automotive repair shop, the career he hopes to pursue when he completes his degree at STCC. Studying isn't the only responsibility these Millbrook Scholars are asked to shoulder. They are also required to keep the house clean, and shop and cook for themselves. Early on, Mayo said Perry took the boys to the market and taught them the essentials of grocery shopping, such as how to compare unit pricing. He also took them to ball games, and both men arranged for them to attend cultural events and meet people in their extensive networks of contacts. Just before Labor Day, Western New England University (WNE) Assistant Baseball Coach Chris Wiltey moved into the house as its new resident advisor, filling a void created when Jackson accepted a position in eastern Massachusetts earlier this year. Mayo and Perry said that since Wiltey moved in, they have turned over more of the day-to-day advising to him. Still, as Perry pointed out, "These boys will never be completely out of our lives. We'll be [involved] in some way, shape or form." Three of the Millbrook Scholars are now in their second year at STCC, and Perry hopes they will be ready to move on to finish their schooling, or get a full-time job by June 2014. According to Mayo, Nick is hoping to attend WNE to complete a criminal justice degree. Stephen, who is becoming an accomplished violinist, wants to continue his information technology studies at either the University of Massachusetts Amherst or WNE. Derick, who has been studying auto body, eventually hopes to open an auto body shop. Brandon, who is also in STCC's criminal justice program, wants his final career to also include wrestling. As for the Millbrook Scholarship Program, Mayo and Perry said CSH has expressed an interest in taking on a larger role in its funding going forward. The pair intends to stay on as advisors and support volunteers for the boys until all four of the original scholars have moved on. Perry said he was unsure at this point if CSH would then reboot the program with four more young men. Looking back, Mayo and Perry said they really didn't grasp the scope of what they were setting out to accomplish when they started the Millbrook Scholars Program. "We didn't know it was a big thing, we just did it," Mayo said. "We made up our minds that human potential should not be wasted." Their efforts, it appears, have had an impact that extends beyond the boy's education. "Just being around York . has changed my personality for the better," Derick said. Nick, too, said Mayo and Perry's example has given him a goal for his future. "When I'm successful, one of the big things I want to do is give back [like they have]," he said.