In addition to our weekly newsletter, we have launched a monthly Lakeshore newsletter curated by guest editors. For April, we invited Dr. Donna Lowry, obstetrician turned Ready for School CEO, to bring her unique perspective to the work our team does at The Lakeshore. 

Lowry, recently profiled in a book about leadership, has rallied the community on a remarkable achievement: Over a decade, the number of children ready for kindergarten jumped from less than half to the majority of children living in the Greater Holland community. The organization’s mission is to give parents and educators the tools they need to prepare children for kindergarten and lifelong learning. 

We salute the dedication of Lowry and all those who are part of the efforts of Ready for School to give all children a better future. In this special edition of The Lakeshore, Lowry highlights others who are making a difference in our community.

Donna Lowry is the President and CEO of Ready for School.
It’s 6:30 a.m. Another Cheerio hits the kitchen floor. My curious 3-year-old's infectious little giggles make me laugh. “What’s going to happen today, Mommy?” he asks. We talk about our daily routine and welcome this day that is now wide awake. By 7 a.m., I’m gowned and safely welcoming baby No. 2 into a patient’s family. It is a day full of possibilities.

That was my life almost two decades ago. 

As an obstetrician, my job was to awaken the possibility in others, literally. And as a mother of three young boys, my job was to nurture their awakenings into a world of possibilities. Seeing the awakening of possibility (potential) is pretty obvious when surrounded by newborns and fast-growing children.

Now, as I lead Ready for School’s work, and as a community member with young adult children, my day-to-day looks different, but awakening the possibility/potential in others remains my North Star.

Now, I get questions like, “How can our community help once the pandemic is over to fill the learning gap created by COVID?” Our community is living that answer every day, and the writing of The Lakeshore team is telling the story. The Lakeshore team digs into the awakening moments through writing about “how people and organizations are making good things happen along West Michigan's Lakeshore.”

These are my favorite “I spy” stories of awakening possibilities in others.

Why doctors are prescribing books to children in Holland

Holland artist's signs aim to cheer hospital workers, community

Gift of saxophone invigorates spirit of Hope student

Little pantry brings kindness, helping hand

Spotlight story:
Teachers play prominent role in judge's journey from migrant work to court bench

Judge Juanita Bocanegra on the bench


Founder shares how nonprofit highlights generosity of tourism industry professionals

Herman Miller's 'Day of Purpose' provides paid time off on Election Day

Metal Flow CEO honored as Woman of Achievement and Courage

Love of language translates into action

Call to Action
Donna Lowry shares a book with a father and his son in 2019.

Communities are made up of people who turn their early mornings and late evenings into awakening moments. I’m not only inspired, I’m confident that these stories and so many others show awakening in action. During this month of the young child, my action list for supporting small children and their BIG potential is long, so if you’d like to join me, I’m always here to help, dlowry@readyforschool.org or 616.834.0515.