Mary-Ella Holst-mother, wife, grandmother, educator, poet, photographer, activist for women and children, and fundraiser for Booker T. Washington Learning Center-began volunteering at the after-school before we had a name.

After earning her master's degree in student personnel and guidance counseling from New York University, Mary-Ella served as Director of Religious Education at All Souls Unitarian Church for eleven years. She is Religious Education Director, emerita and a recent Past-President of the congregation.

She and Rev. Ricksy met twenty years ago, through an interfaith initiative called Crossing 96th Street. United in their commitment to the education and well-being of the families of East Harlem, and with the help of many volunteers and supporters, and eventually staff members, they have built The Booker T. Washington Learning Center into an organization that has changed the lives of thousands of people.

As a fundraiser for the Learning Center, Mary-Ella embodies the phrase "fundraising and friend raising." At a recent gathering of the Friends of Booker T., her enormous contribution was evident as everyone in the room described an encounter with Mary-Ella as the reason for their involvement. She worked on the capital campaign that enabled the Learning Center to renovate a brownstone for its administrative office and young adult programs. Since October 2000, she has worked on the benefit committee for the annual jazz concert and last year recruited its first corporate sponsor.

As a volunteer, Mary-Ella has read stories, practiced multiplication tables, shopped for and wrapped holiday gifts and planned awesome parties. She has attended the children's poetry readings and their Ancestors' Night programs. She has baked cupcakes, made valentines, and helped with resumes.

Mary-Ella has done all of this while creating a photographic portrait of the Center-documenting the joy and successes of the children and the love and dedication of the staff and volunteers.

When asked what working with the children means to her, Mary-Ella cites a New York Times article by Ben Stein subtitled "The Water We Swim In." In it, he quotes an assertion made by anthropologists that "if fish could think or had consciousness, the last thing they would think about is water" because they swim in it.

"I was struck by the phrase 'The Water We Swim In,'" Mary-Ella says. She adds reflectively, "Well this is the water I swim in and I don't know how to do anything else. I don't know how to breathe and speak and have values in any other way. So it is hard for me to say what it means to me. It means I'm alive."

And so it seems we are all a little bit more alive-and busy-whenever she's around. Thank you, Mary-Ella, for your enthusiasm, caring, and many years of friendship and support.