From WGBH News
Childhood is supposed to be a time of happiness — full of carefree memories that last a lifetime — but for kids under the care of the state, those “magic moments” can be harder to come by. That’s the focus of Wonderfund — a local nonprofit, which was just re-launched with a new champion: Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker.
“We’re trying to give these kids moments that matter in their lives,” Baker said when she joined Jim Braude on Greater Boston.
Baker has been working with the group for more than a year under its former name, DCF Kids Fund. The nonprofit was founded 19 years ago and has a unique partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families to support enrichment activities and accompaniments to kids in state care.
“It might be a little bit of extra care and comfort in a traumatic situation, like a teddy bear or a pair of new pajamas,” said Baker, “a baseball glove … ballet lessons … music lessons … or summer camp. We want to make those moments of childhood happen for these kids.”
Asked whether she’s worried about people making donations to her nonprofit in an effort to curry favor with her husband, Gov. Charlie Baker, Baker says not really.
“I’ve always been passionate about kids,” she said. “I hope to [ultimately] be able to say that the Wonderfund [has provided] opportunities and access to every single child served by the Department of Children and Families.”
To see the full interview with Lauren Baker, click here.