When I think about Mary Kasindorf, I invariably think of the story of David and Goliath. A young boy with little but a slingshot, a stone, and his courage, facing a giant of a man, a professional warrior, and through pluck and grit and providence, the boy emerges victorious.

Like young David, the only thing that can be said to be small about Mary is her size. Mary saw a giant of a job that needed to be done¬ children who needed a safe and nurturing environment after school ended, before school began, during school vacations and holidays ¬ and with little more than a slingshot, Mary never stopped fighting to provide what those children required. She had the encouragement of some; she overcome the indifference of many; without enough money, without enough staff, without enough space, she built the finest quality child care program in all of New York state.

Mary had the giant vision to see what needed to be done. She had the giant will to persevere through all the adversities, to see the task through ¬ and to see it done right. She had a giant heart that is open to every child she meets and to every struggling parent that needs encouragement or support. She envisioned CLASP as one large extended family ¬ caring and supporting each member of that family, and Mary had the giant strength of her convictions that turned each and every one of us into believers ¬ that together we could accomplish anything and everything.

Mary is also that unique type of person who not only accomplishes many good things through her own energy and fortitude, but who makes each of us better, simply for having known her, and for having shared in our own small ways in that accomplishment. I had the privilege, as many of you know, of serving as the president of CLASP for five years and working side by side with Mary at a time when it wasn't always clear that CLASP would survive. All I knew for sure was that I couldn't let Mary down¬because I saw firsthand how much she gave of herself. There was nothing that Mary held back. For the hours she worked, for the dedication that was always unwavering, she was easily the most underpaid person I knew, but she was also the person most appreciated by the children, by the parents, by the staff, by the board members of CLASP, and by the community she served so well and so long.

Mary, you were then, you are now, you will always be ¬ our inspiration.