This month we are featuring former Board member Marilyn Randall as part of our Member Moment Series! An avid follower of our events and programs, we are excited to feature Marilyn this May and discover more about her and her history with the Alice Ferguson Foundation.
Originally from Yonkers, New York, Marilyn is a retired Federal Government Personnel Management Specialist. She has lived all over the country, but as a local business owner, she is no stranger to the neighborhood! Her family business, Anchors Kennel, opened in 1987. Located in Accokeek, Anchors Kennel is a full service boarding and grooming facility serving MD, VA, and the Washington, D.C. area.
A dog lover herself, Marilyn’s Boston Terrier, Duffy, won Best of Breed in the Westminster Dog Club Show, and his legacy was just as impressive! His son won Best of Breed, his grandson won Best of Breed, and his great-granddaughter won Best of Breed as well. Also relating to her love of dogs, an interesting story regarding Marilyn and Anchors Kennel is that a dog residing at her kennel had puppies unexpectedly! The dog owner was on emergency military leave, and it was quite the wild night. She ended up having five healthy puppies, and the dog owner returned at a later date.
Marilyn first became introduced to Alice Ferguson Foundation through attending a play her friend was directing at the Ferguson Amphitheater. She has fond memories of participating in various events, including Oktoberfest and Valentine’s Dinner Theater. She also had a hand in creating the beloved apple strudel famously served at Oktoberfest. In addition, she served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors in the late 1990s, and was honored to be involved and among such a great group of people. In addition to serving on the Board, Marilyn also served on the Boston Terrier Club of Maryland Board of Baltimore.
Our mission of connecting children to the outdoors and finding joy in nature especially stands out to Marilyn. She states, “Bringing [in] the children that haven’t had a chance to really be in the woods [is important]. The drive in just amazes me. And teaching the children about the land and the cleanups, of course, are important. What a proud thing for the Alice Ferguson Foundation to have [the cleanups] grow like that!”
Currently, one of the ways Marilyn enjoys spending her time is visiting Lake George, in the Adirondacks in New York. She and her family enjoy fishing, swimming, and spending summers there now that her granddaughter and grandson-in-law have taken over the kennel.
We are so grateful for Marilyn’s continued support and participation in our programs and look forward to seeing her at our future events!