Anthony Marino, who in April will run his first ever marathon, says he is on track with his training, despite the recent crazy, New England weather.

“Waking up early to run is never easy, let alone when it’s below 20 degrees,” notes Anthony, who is running the Boston Marathon to raise money for Family ACCESS. “The biggest setback happened at the beginning of January when rain froze overnight and the sidewalks around my house were dangerous.  I ran on the road as much as I could, mindful of local traffic, but took a slip.”

The fall wasn’t too bad, but Anthony says the bruise served as a painful reminder of the incident for a few days. Overall, the training is helping him build confidence, and he even thinks he may beat the original goal time he set for himself.

“My wife, Emily, has been especially great. She keeps me honest about getting up early to train and makes sure I prioritize my recovery, too,” says Anthony. “I feel like I’m progressing well and will get to that finish line.”

So far, Anthony has only reached 13 percent of his fundraising goal for Family ACCESS. You can help cheer him on by donating here. (https://www.givengain.com/campaign/support-anthony)

What happens when three non-profit organizations team up to help parents with low to moderate income? A free shopping experience!

The Macy May Foundation collects gently used adult clothing, shoes, and jewelry for those in need. When they were looking for help distributing the donated apparel in the city of Waltham, Family ACCESS jumped in to help.

“In the last six months alone, our free programs have supported 343 Waltham families. We knew that a boutique shopping experience would be welcomed by those parents,” says Debra Brush, LICSW, Director of Early Literary Services at Family ACCESS. “What we didn’t have was a place in Waltham to hold the event.”

The Family ACCESS team approached The Waltham Family School, (WFS) a Family Literacy Program, which serves Waltham families with free preschool for children 3-5 and English Language Learning for their parents, to host this event.  WFS is a strong, long-term partner of Family ACCESS.

WFS was happy to help.

“Volunteers from the Macy May Foundation set up the room at WFS just like a clothing store and parents came in to browse and shop, taking as many items as they could carry,” Debra notes. “They were so grateful.”

Call it peer pressure – or maybe his heart simply grew bigger than his nerves.

In April, Anthony Marino will run his first full marathon. And he’ll do it in Boston, to benefit Family ACCESS.

“I have a group of four friends and I’m the only one who has not run the Boston Marathon,” says Marino, 30, from Andover. “This is my chance to show I can do it, and for a great cause.”

Family ACCESS received a 2026 Boston Marathon charity bib from the city of Newton. Marino heard from a friend about the opportunity, applied, and was chosen to represent the organization. While he hasn’t run a full 26.2 mile trek yet, he’s completed six half-marathons in the past few years.

“I have my training plan. On Wednesdays, I do five miles at marathon pace and on Sundays, I’ll work my way up to longer distances,” say Marino. “In March, I’m scheduled for a 20-mile training run.”

Athletic challenges are nothing new to Marino. He played soccer in high school and at Boston College, where he graduated in 2017, he was on the crew team. That’s where he met and later married his college sweetheart, Emily.

“We don’t have any kids yet, but I have four nieces and nephews under the age of six,” he notes. “I can appreciate an organization focused on early education and on providing resources for young families in the community. Family Access gives each child a jump-start on learning.”

Marino works in accounting for the fitness technology company WHOOP, maker of wearable bands that track blood oxygen, heart rate, sleep and other physiological data to improve health and performance. He says the band will “definitely help” with his training. As will thoughts of a brighter future for area children.

“When I was on the crew team, each rower had to do his part to get to the finish line,” he explains. “When I run this marathon, it will be like having all the kids touched by Family ACCESS in the boat with me. We’re all a part of this team.”

With your help, each step Anthony takes toward the finish line will move Family ACCESS toward its goals. Please consider supporting his 2026 marathon run by making a donation here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jim Rapoport

Interim Executive Director

Family ACCESS of Newton

jrapoport@familyaccess.org

(617) 969-5906

Family ACCESS of Newton Welcomes Maisie Pollard as New Executive Director

Family ACCESS of Newton, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families through early childhood education and family support programs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Maisie Pollard as its new Executive Director.

Maisie brings over 25 years of leadership experience and a strong record of advancing health, education, and community-based initiatives. Her career has been defined by her dedication to equity, access, and opportunity for families, particularly those in under-resourced communities. Prior to joining Family ACCESS, she served as Chief Administrative Officer for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she led strategic growth initiatives, expanded maternal and family health programs, and oversaw complex operations across clinical, academic, and research settings.

At Family ACCESS, Maisie will lead the organization into its next chapter of growth and impact, overseeing programs that nurture early childhood development, literacy, and family well-being. “I am deeply honored to join Family ACCESS,” said Maisie. “This organization plays a critical role in ensuring every child and family has access to high-quality early learning and educational opportunities for a strong start in life. I’m inspired by our team, our history, and the communities we serve—and I look forward to building on this legacy together.”

A History of Helping Families

Over its 118-year history, Family ACCESS has supported thousands of children and families from diverse backgrounds across Greater Boston. The organization offers a range of services, including its nationally accredited Early Learning Center, the ParentChild+ program, Raising a Reader literacy initiative, counseling and parent support programs, and a community food closet that provides essential resources for families.

Jim Rapoport, Chair of the Family ACCESS Board of Directors, shared, “Maisie was the clear choice to lead Family ACCESS into the future. Her leadership, strategic vision, and deep commitment to serving families will continue to strengthen our mission of supporting children and parents across our community.”

Maisie’s appointment marks a new chapter in Family ACCESS’s ongoing mission to ensure that every child—regardless of background—has the foundation to learn, grow, and thrive.

About Family ACCESS of Newton

For over 118 years, Family ACCESS of Newton has supported families through early childhood education, literacy programs, counseling, and community partnerships. The organization’s mission is to ensure that every child—regardless of background—has access to quality early learning experiences and that every parent feels supported in helping their child reach their fullest potential.

For more information about Family ACCESS of Newton, visit www.familyaccess.org.