The Best Check She Writes

How a half-tuition scholarship shaped Kathryne Lyons '82 — and why she gives back every single year.

"I said it years ago, and I mean it today: My check to the Mount is the best check I write each year."

For Kathryne Lyons '82, that's not just a nice line — it's the truth. "No one makes me write it," she says. "Even as a young alum, when it wasn't easy, I chose to do it. That's the pleasure of giving."

A door her family could barely imagine

Kathryne's Mount story began with a scholarship that changed everything. Growing up in Philadelphia, where most people in her community didn't go to college, the Mount opened a door her family could barely imagine. "My parents didn't have a lot of money. I could have gone elsewhere, but I got a scholarship that paid half the tuition. My dad said, 'She's gotta go to the Mount.' They never would have sent me otherwise."

That investment transformed not just Kathryne, but her entire family. "My mom didn't go to college. My dad finished night school when I was seven. The Mount committed them even more deeply to the idea that their children needed to be educated. My mom was always proud that her daughters got Master's degrees before our brothers."

The education was formative. "You walk into an environment where everyone's truly there to learn — where it doesn't matter if you're a jock, in theater, singing, or running the newspaper. Your academics matter," Kathryne explains. "You look around and see the strongest student leader, the best athlete, the most impressive scientist — and they're all women. You realize you can become who you're meant to be."

"You look around and see the strongest student leader, the best athlete, the most impressive scientist — and they're all women. You realize you can become who you're meant to be."

Carrying the Mount forward

That belief propelled her forward — from earning her MBA at Wharton to leadership roles as president of her co-op board and on the Mercy Center South Bronx Board of Directors, advocating for education and immigrants, teaching ESOL, and planning galas. The writing and analytical skills she learned at the Mount still serve her today. She still sings in her church chorus and performs with a band on the side. "Mountie women tend to be future-focused with a touch more compassion," she observes.

Living in New York City, Kathryne loves connecting fellow Mount alumnae and keeping the sisterhood alive. She's also acutely aware of funding disparities. "Across the board, schools for young women are not equally supported compared to boys' schools. We need to do something about that."

Her parents taught her: "Even if it's only $10, give back to your school every year. It matters." For Kathryne, leadership-level annual giving to the Mount Mission Fund is how she lives that principle. "I hope I've paid back my scholarship for future generations."

"Donors like Kathryne are the backbone of the Mount Mission Fund," says Katie McClernand Sacchetta '05, Director of Annual Giving. "Leadership gifts anchor our annual fund and allow us to plan thoughtfully for the year ahead. We hope every alumna will begin their philanthropic journey at the Mount by supporting the Mount Mission Fund — and donors who commit to consistent annual gifts make all the difference in sustaining our mission."

The Sisters of Saint Joseph assert, "On the education of women largely depends the future of society." Kathryne believes it. And she has a message for fellow alumnae: "The Mount taught us to never be afraid to raise your hand and speak your mind. We learned to have a plan, back up what we say, and stand up for what we believe. Now use that confidence to support the next generation."

After all, it's the best check she writes each year.

---

Why Leadership Annual Giving Matters

The Mount Mission Fund provides unrestricted support for immediate needs and unexpected opportunities — from emergency scholarships to innovative programs to essential faculty support. Leadership-level gifts ($1,000+) create a sustainable foundation ensuring every student can experience a transformative education.

Make the Mount your best check of the year. Give at msjacad.org/give, or contact Katie McClernand Sacchetta '05, Director of Annual Giving, at ksacchetta@msjacad.org or 215-233-3177 ext. 394.