Hamilton - Wenham Chronicle
Marianne Larned: Making a Difference
By Teri Evans
May 26, 1999
Anyone can make a difference in another's life. By taking one small step
towards helping another, you can change the world. This is the message
that Marianne Larned wants to convey in "Stone Soup for the World:
Life-Changing Stories of Kindness & Courageous Acts of Service."
Created for readers of all ages, this collection of 100 inspirational
stories celebrates the differences anyone can make.
This book is to remind everyone that we need to help out," Larned said.
"By doing this, we will not be only making a difference, but this will
bring meaning and purpose to our lives. This book is a way to connect
average Americans."
Growing up in Wenham, Larned knows the differences that people can make
in each others lives. When her father died, the community rallied around
her family, and she saw first-hand how individual actions can mean so
much.
Years later, when her brother, Chris Larned, died in a car accident,
she saw again how the community helped support them.
As the result of his death, Hamilton-Wenham High School created the
Chris Larned award, given to the student who has "given the most of
themselves" over the school year. This award, presented by the Touch
Down Club, will be given at the high school on June 2.
I feel grateful to Hamilton-Wenham for the gift they gave to our
family," Larned said. "People need to remember the fact that they
know about making a difference, and that they have the tools that
they can refer to."
When Larned graduated from Hamilton-Wenham High School, she received
an award for outstanding community service. "I had a sense of purpose
about life at 17 because I had volunteered. I knew what was important
to me. The same thing is appropriate now; kids need an anchor...they
need to see role models and heroes that work on an everyday basis with
volunteer programs.
To this end, Larned has created the Stone Soup Foundation, a non-profit,
educational organization, which encourages young people to build a better
world. This foundation, located on Martha 's Vineyard, produces programs
that teach adults how to build the bridge between adults and children,
according to Larned.
"We're having a two-day training program on Martha's Vineyard on July
10 and 11," Larned said. "You give kids a strong foundation, and teach
them how to face obstacles, and they can learn from people who have
conquered those same obstacles."
Larned has also created a "Leader's Guide to Stone Soup for the World."
This guide contains a story a week for two years. It's aimed at mentors,
teachers and parents.
"People need to know that there is hope," Larned said. "The leader's
guide helps give us the tools to build this hope...Although economically
we're in a good time, from the social standpoint, we're in a turbulent
time once again. We need to give some gifts back to society."
To order "Stone Soup for the World," or receive information about the
Stone Soup leadership training program, call the foundation at
(508) 696-8514.
Marianne Larned has founded the Stone Soup Foundation because, she says,
everyone can make a difference.
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