Barbara Williamson: Committed to the Mind, Body, and Spirit of Every Memphian

Photo: It was on a shared vacation that donors Lewis & Barbara Williamson, left, heard about M.O.S.T. from founders Bob and Jackie Solmson, igniting their interest in supporting our scholarship program.

“One of my favorite days of the year is the M.O.S.T. Senior Reception, where the Scholars who are graduating are celebrated by their families and donors. I love talking with these young people and hearing their stories,” said M.O.S.T. advocate Barbara Williamson. “They’re all so enthusiastic, and they have the confidence to see a bright future for themselves. Not one of them says ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do next.’ They all have a firm grip on their purpose, their calling, and have a clear plan to lead themselves there.”

Barbara and her husband Lewis heard about M.O.S.T. from founder Bob Solmson, who happens to be their neighbor. While the Williamsons were on a stroll during a Florida vacation with Bob and his wife Jackie, the topic came up.

“Bob started talking about the differences M.O.S.T. scholarships have made in the city. It was clear how much he loved it, and I respect him very much and his opinion matters,” she said. “I know that he is not profligate, that he cares deeply about the things to which he contributes, and it piqued my interest. This was four or five years ago, and we’ve been annual donors since.”

A product of Hutchison School, Barbara has a deep passion for her alma mater and maintains a close relationship with the school as a volunteer and supporter. She feels strongly that every committed student deserves access to schools that prepare them for success in adulthood and sees M.O.S.T. as a proven and efficient tool to make quality education more affordable.

“I'm involved with another group that's very serious about holistic living – mind, body and spirit. M.O.S.T. is laser-focused on the mind. You can heal the body, you can treat the spirit, but if you're not educated, then your mind won’t fulfill its true potential and you'll have a less fruitful quality of life,” said Barbara. “Without reaching children when they're young and eager to learn, it's almost impossible to change what will happen later in life. Poverty is stressful, and stress is so detrimental to health, both at the individual level, and for entire communities.”

“Philanthropy can offer a lifeline to the next generation of Memphians through education opportunities, exposure to the arts, and health interventions,” she said. “M.O.S.T. checks these boxes for me by giving young people the opportunity to attend a school that can reach down and unlock their promise and pull it to the surface so that they have the confidence in themselves to achieve anything.”

When asked what she would say to someone considering making their first gift to support M.O.S.T. Scholarships, Barbara was quick with her answer.

“I would ask: ‘What would you do with your money if you knew that it could contribute to impacting more than 3,600 children in PreK through high school, with 95% of them going on to a four-year college simply through your generosity?’ I would point out that these young people could achieve lifetime success through opportunities they wouldn’t have without our help, and just see what they said.”