Women's Circle of Giving profile: Lynn Cormier-Sayarath. A mentor for the next generation
They jokingly call themselves the fantastic four, but the joke isn't far from reality as these four women have dedicated the past three decades to supporting the Greater Gardner community's most vulnerable.
Lynn Cormier-Sayarath, Tracy Hutchinson, Shannon Ouellette and Theresa Thompson are the women behind the relaunch of the Greater Gardner Women's Circle of Giving (WCOG). Besides collecting over $35,000 for local nonprofits in their first year of restoring the circle they have made it their lives mission to help others.
All four of these women were born and raised in the Greater Gardner area and are currently living in the community. They are mothers, wives, and strong leaders within their respected field of work and in the community of Greater Gardner.
Meet Lynn Cormier-Sayarath
Lynn Cormier-Sayarath, the WCOG leadership chair, was the Gardner High field hockey coach for 20 years before retiring so she can be able to go to her two teenage boys' sports games. She said her love for coaching field hockey is rooted in the empowerment of young girls.
Sayarath said she co-founded the Worcester Country Girls on the Run chapter because she knows so many girls struggle with self-esteem, and they need encouragement to strengthen their confidence.
More: Meet WCOG's Tracy Hutchinson Women's Circle of Giving profile: Tracy Hutchinson. Helping others is in her blood
"You don't have to look far to see women tearing each other down or expressing low self-esteem," she said "I see coaching field hockey as a vehicle to impact young women so they can feel inspired to empower other girls."
Inspired by her mother
The person who fostered Sayarath's passion help other was her mother. Sayarath said her mother encouraged her to give back to the community by helping others when they need it the most.
"I was going to be a travel agent, but I changed my major two weeks before the semester started because the impact my mom had on me made me realize I love people" she said. "I just love people I really do. The good, the bad, the ugly. I think people are fascinating."
More: Meet WCOG's Shannon Ouellette Women's Circle of Giving profile: Shannon Ouellette. Empowering women and helping others
Sayarath said her first job in social work when she was 16 led her to her calling of being a social worker. Sayarath has been working in the mental health field for 22 years and has her own independent social work practice at 418 Patriots Road, Templeton.
Mentoring the next generation
Recently Sayarath has accepted an offer to teach a psychology course at William James College in Newton. She said this an opportunity she couldn't refused because she will be mentoring the next generation of mental health professionals. Sayarath has been working in higher education since 2005 but this is her first opportunity to teach a course by herself.
"For me it another opportunity to pay it forward especially because we are in a desperate of well-trained mental health professionals," she said. "I couldn't pass on this great opportunity. A lot of the community work that I continue to do organically builds itself right into the course."
More: Meet WCOG's Theresa Thompson Women's Circle of Giving profile: Theresa Thompson. Her greatest success is her family
Sayarath said balance and passion is key in social and community work. She said she will not volunteer her time if she isn't truly passionate about the project because she needs to have time for the community work she already is doing.
"I'm shifting gears by saying no and only doing thing that I'm passionate about," she said "I have my fingers in all different places in the community so being able to say no to certain things is really important."
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner Womens Circle of Giving Lynn Cormier-Sayarath mentor coach
