Noni LaLone was the first person in her family with a college degree. Her father, 17 when she was born, didn’t graduate from high school.
Today, LaLone is a partner in the Everett office of a major accounting, tax and consulting firm. She also heads a steering committee to launch InspireHer, a new effort to help girls build successful lives and careers.
“My upbringing was not ‘Leave It to Beaver,’” said LaLone, who works at Moss Adams LLP. “A lot of people helped me along the way. I want to do for others what people did for me.”
LaLone told her story at a breakfast Wednesday at the Everett Golf & Country Club. Women were invited to learn how they could help with InspireHer, as mentors, planners or donors.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County will be the home of InspireHer, which is sponsored by Moss Adams. There is a similar program in King County, InfluenceHer, but LaLone said the grass-roots effort here is distinct to Snohomish County.
Women invited to Wednesday’s event were “hand-picked” as role models and potential mentors by InspireHer organizers, LaLone said. Seventy women attended the breakfast. And $4,600 was raised to provide girls with memberships to local Boys & Girls Clubs and for special programming.
InspireHer will target girls ages 8 to 18. The goal is to foster success in three areas: career and academic achievement, character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. Read more.