A Lycoming College graduate has been selected as the new executive director of the non-profit organization established in 2009 known as the Favors Forward Foundation.

“As a single mother, I have faced many hardships and if it were not for community resources, I would not be the person I am today,” said Lalitha Durlin, who said she was recently chosen by the board of directors of the foundation as the organization’s new executive director.

“I hope to be a blueprint for those who hold a fervor for their community and want to know how to become involved, even on a small scale,” she said.

Durlin brings a wealth of experience having served on AmeriCorps, the City of Williamsport Recreation Department, Lycoming County United Way’s board of directors, and More to Life girls’ mentoring program.

Additionally, she established a residential cleaning business, Living Naturallee Cleaning Services.

The Favors Forward Foundation consists of a network of volunteers uniting their time, talent and treasures to serve children and adults throughout Lycoming County facing life-changing hardships.

These hardships can be caused by disability, illness and death in the family (70% of the clients), domestic violence (8% of clients), job loss (6% of clients), or separation, divorce, natural disaster, housing needs, and multiple deployments in military service, and more.

The foundation’s focus is to assist individuals and their families to weather difficult hardships and connect them to appropriate Health and Human Services, with 100% of all time, talent and treasures donated to the foundation going directly to the clients.

Differing from other non-profit organizations, each of the Favors Forward Foundation “client(s)” signs a contract and promises to “Pay it Forward” (thus the name) to help others once they are back on their feet.

In her new role, Durlin said she will further develop and continue to maintain a network of volunteers, routinely communicating with health and human services agencies to connect clients, work with schools and counselors, service agencies and organizations in meeting clients needs.

Durlin said she will be responsible for planning and implementing special programs offered by the foundation, including but not limited to, The Adopt a Family for the Holidays, Back to School, Partners to Promise Youth Initiative and the annual Spring Clean Up. Durlin also said she planned to use her experience in grant writing and social media talents as part of her executive duties and to further reach out into the community.

Her education, life experience and her passion meshed well with what the board was looking for in the foundation’s next executive director.

“Our board of directors look forward to working with Ms. Durlin,” said Beth McMahon, Ph.D., president, Favors Forward Foundation.

“We believe she embodies the mission of our foundation and brings a fresh and proven track record in innovative approaches to addressing the complex challenges faced by our friends and neighbors that are experiencing major hardships.”

The next event Favors Forward Foundation will be working on is the Spring Clean Up in April.

“We are all neighbors, and we should treat each other as such, with care, compassion, and empathy while establishing support systems that contribute to every individual’s success,” Durlin said.