Lolly’s Place is an after-school tutoring and enrichment program that welcomes children in grades K-8 of all academic abilities, ethnicities, faiths, and socioeconomic backgrounds. To better meet the needs of the whole child, we focus on a holistic approach to learning. Our overarching goal is to empower students with the skills they need to understand their individual learning styles and become lifelong learners.

Our volunteer tutors are the backbone of our organization. In the photo above, one of our volunteers (a retired reading specialist) supports a Lolly’s Place student on a writing project.

At Lolly’s Place, we believe…

• Education is liberation.

• Every child has the right to a quality education.

• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and relationship building are foundational to our work.

• Working alongside our students and their families as advocates is critical to learning outcomes.

OUR TEAM

Administration

Mary Pat Gallagher Executive Director/Founder

Becky Biedenstein Assistant Director

Jessi Delaney Program & Volunteer Director

Team Members

Deborah Anderson Program Assistant

Opal Barbour After-school Tutor

Eileen Buckner After-school Tutor

Pat Jackson Receptionist

Peggy O’Brien Tutor

Karen Peregrino Art Instructor

Val Peregrino Art Assistant

Lisseth Salgado Consultant ELL Director / School Neuropsychologist

Jill Welsh Art Teacher

2025-2026 Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Sean Barry, JD - President

Annie-Marie Moreno - Vice President

Albert Orri, MS - Secretary

Brooke Killion, CPA - Treasurer



DIRECTORS

Sonia Childs - Educator

Abby Cole - Development Professional

Betsy Fentress - Freelance Editor / LP Volunteer Tutor

Mary Pat Gallagher, M.A. - Founder and E.D.

Luis Merida - University School District

Brenda Pierce -

Peggy O’Brien -

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

• Betsy Fentress Buildings and Grounds

• Abby Cole Development

• Suzanne Basuino Finance

• Sean Barry Governance

• Sherley Moran Strategic Planning