The Good Fountain Alumnae Blog

First Stop: Boston!

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:59:39 GMT

First Stop: Boston!

Have you ever seen those Southern New Hampshire University commercials with the big bus traveling from state to state, delivering diplomas and spreading that you can do anything spirit? Well, picture that—minus the bus. Ha!

Fontbonne is hitting the road, and our first stop is right in our own backyard: Boston!

On October 28, 2026, we’ll host our first Fontbonne on the Road Alumnae Reception at Boston Harbor Distillery . And yes, it’s a woman-owned distillery—because whenever we can infuse an event with a little girl-power, boss energy, you know we’re going to do it!

The purpose of Fontbonne on the Road is simple: connect our alumnae, create opportunities for networking, and bring the sisterhood together.

Something we often forget as alumnae is that we already have this incredible, built-in network of amazing women. It’s an exclusive club you don’t have to do anything extra to join. You graduated from Fontbonne. That’s it. You’re in.

People spend their entire lives looking for a place to belong—for connection, relationships, and that feeling of being part of something bigger. The beautiful thing about being a Fontbonne alumna is that you may not have to look very far to find exactly that.

Alumnae from across the Boston area will have the opportunity to gather, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, network, and hear exciting updates from Head of School Maura Spignesi.

Fontbonne’s mission has always called us to gracious hospitality, and now it’s time to take that hospitality beyond campus and bring it directly to our alumnae.

Boston is only the beginning. More Fontbonne on the Road stops are planned for the months ahead, and we can’t wait to bring the Fontbonne sisterhood to communities near and far.

Ready to join us? Click here to register , grab an alumna friend, and help us spread the word!

I’ve often said, “All roads lead to Fontbonne.”

Now it’s time to put that saying to the test. First stop: Boston.

God Love a Duck: The Story Behind a Fontbonne Saying

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:43:32 GMT

God Love a Duck:

The Story Behind a Fontbonne Saying

While going through old Fontbonne yearbooks—something we find ourselves doing quite often—I stumbled upon a photo that immediately caught my attention.

It showed the back of a woman’s shirt with the words:

“God Love a Duck.”

It made me laugh. At first, I thought, Did they forget the “s” in loves? But after reading it a few more times, I knew two things: First, Fontbonne girls don’t make mistakes (speaking from experience, of course!), and second, in true Fontbonne fashion, there had to be a story behind it.

The saying stuck with me.

I loved it so much that I decided to have a fun “God Love a Duck” hat made. Maybe it would raise an eyebrow or spark a question from someone passing by—and give me the perfect opportunity to tell them about Fontbonne, our history, and, of course, our beloved duck.

Then one day, our Wellness teacher, Keri McPhillips, stopped me in the hallway.

“I know the woman who coined that saying!”

My response was immediate: “YOU DO?!”

She did.

The woman behind “God Love a Duck” is none other than Loraine Sumner , who taught physical education at Fontbonne in the 1970s. At the time, Loraine was the only lay teacher working alongside a faculty of Sisters—and she came before another legendary name in Fontbonne athletics, Ellen Sullivan.

Suddenly, a funny phrase in an old yearbook had a name, a face, and a story.

So, naturally, we had to find Loraine.

With a little research, we learned that she spends time at the Milton Council on Aging—which, in another wonderful Fontbonne connection, is led by Christine Stanton ’86, Director of the Milton Council on Aging.

Chief Advancement Officer Maureen Ridings and I headed over with the original yearbook photo and a special surprise: Loraine’s very own “God Love a Duck” hat.

There, in a side room surrounded by friends and in the middle of a game of mahjong, sat 90-year-old Loraine.

When we showed her the photograph and the hat, her reaction was priceless. She was thrilled—and perhaps just as amazed as we were—that this little piece of Fontbonne history had resurfaced all these years later.

Then she told us how the saying began.

Loraine hated hearing curse words. So, when the girls needed a more appropriate way to express themselves, she encouraged them to replace those words with: “God love a duck!” And apparently, it stuck.

Decades later, the saying was still there in a Fontbonne yearbook, just waiting for someone to ask: What’s the story behind this?

It was a wonderful reminder that every Fontbonne photograph, tradition, saying, and memory has a story. When you take the time to dig a little deeper, you never know where it might lead—or which incredible Fontbonne woman you might meet along the way.

Our history is all around us. Sometimes, you just have to look for it.

God love a duck, and God love Loraine!

Thank you, Loraine, for sharing this wonderful piece of Fontbonne history with us and for your service to generations of Fontbonne girls. We’re so glad this little piece of your legacy found its way back to you.

And now, you can carry on a little piece of that Fontbonne history, too! Limited-edition “God Love a Duck” hats are available in the Fontbonne Duck Shop . Grab yours while they last—and when someone inevitably asks what it means, you’ll have a pretty great Fontbonne story to tell.

Class of ’08 Rallies Around One of Their Own

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:32:30 GMT

Fontbonne's Class of '08

Rallies Around One of Their Own

In June 2026, Emily (Baker) Quinn '08 received the devastating news that her nearly five-year-old daughter, Lily, had been diagnosed with leukemia.

Emily is currently on leave from her career to care for Lily as she undergoes treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Jimmy Fund Clinic, with plans to return to work in October. Alongside her husband, Kevin, and their young son, James, the Quinn family is navigating what is expected to be a two-and-a-half-year journey toward healing.

As soon as the Class of 2008 learned of Lily's diagnosis, classmates rallied around the Quinn family, organizing gifts and care packages to bring comfort during this difficult time.

Emily shared her gratitude:

"Thank you all so much for the incredibly thoughtful gift for Lily. We were released from the hospital earlier than expected, so instead of decorating a hospital room, she is now using everything to decorate her little room at home, and she is absolutely loving it. It means so much that you thought of our family after all these years."

Continuing to rally around Lily and the Quinn family, a team is dedicating their Jimmy Fund Walk to Lily, with Emily’s husband, Kevin, joining the team and walking in her honor. Together, they are raising critical funds to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving cancer care and research. If you wish to contribute in honor of Lily, please click here .

Emily's story is a powerful reminder that the Fontbonne sisterhood doesn't end at graduation. When one member of our community needs support, others show up with compassion, generosity, and love.

Please keep Emily, Kevin, James, and especially Lily in your thoughts and prayers as they continue this journey.

Meet Maureen Ridings, Fontbonne’s Chief Advancement Officer

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:32:06 GMT

Meet Our Chief Advancement Officer

At the heart of Fontbonne is a community built on relationships, shared purpose, and a deep belief in the power of educating and empowering young women. For Maureen Ridings, Chief Advancement Officer at Fontbonne , those connections are what make her work so meaningful.

Now celebrating her first year at Fontbonne, Maureen shares what drew her to the school, what she loves most about Advancement, her excitement for Fontbonne’s future—and a few fun facts about life outside the office.

What is your role at Fontbonne?

I am the Chief Advancement Officer at Fontbonne, where I lead the Advancement team and oversee fundraising, alumnae and parent engagement, donor relations, communications, and strategic advancement initiatives.

How long have you been at Fontbonne?

I have been part of the Fontbonne community for one year, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown alongside this special school. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many generous alumnae, parents, grandparents, friends, faculty, and staff who believe so deeply in Fontbonne.

What inspired you to work at Fontbonne?

From my very first meeting with Maura Spignesi—one of the most mission-driven leaders I know—I was immediately drawn to Fontbonne.

I was inspired by the incredible sense of community, a school that believes so strongly in educating and empowering young women to be leaders, and the opportunity to connect with an extraordinary network of alumnae. I couldn’t wait for the offer letter to arrive!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The people! My role is all about building relationships and hearing the stories of our alumnae and families. Every conversation reminds me of the profound impact Fontbonne has had on so many lives.

I also love being part of an outstanding team that is passionate, creative, and committed to taking Fontbonne to the next level.

What project or accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m particularly proud of our ambitious plan to take every aspect of Advancement to the next level of excellence.

We worked hard over the summer months on a strategic plan to prepare Fontbonne for an exciting new chapter of fundraising and engagement initiatives. I’m proud that we are helping shape a remarkable future for Fontbonne and the outstanding alumnae we serve.

What do you hope people know about Advancement that they may not realize?

Advancement is so much more than fundraising. At its heart, it’s about relationships.

We connect alumnae, parents, grandparents, and friends to the mission of Fontbonne and create opportunities for them to make a meaningful impact. Every gift tells a story, and every relationship matters.

What is your favorite Fontbonne tradition or event?

One of my favorite things about Fontbonne is seeing our community come together for events like Reunion and Gala celebrations, Baccalaureate, and Graduation.

There is something meaningful about watching our students celebrate how far they’ve come while surrounded by the people who have supported them along the way.

I also love opportunities to bring our alumnae back to Fontbonne and see the friendships and connections that remain strong long after graduation.

What advice would you give to someone new to Fontbonne?

Get involved! Fontbonne is a place where relationships really matter. Say yes to volunteer opportunities, connect with people, and don’t be afraid to bring your ideas forward. You never know where one conversation or one opportunity might lead.

How have you seen Fontbonne grow or change during your time here?

Fontbonne continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in its mission and charism. I’ve seen an incredible commitment to innovation, the student experience, and building a strong future for the school.

What is especially exciting is the energy around what comes next. We are not simply preserving Fontbonne’s legacy—we are building on it and imagining what is possible for the next generation.

Outside of Fontbonne

Tell us a little about yourself outside of work.

Outside of work, I love spending time with family and friends. I enjoy spending time on Cape Cod, playing golf with my husband, and walking our two sweet Golden Retrievers, Quinn and Nicklaus—who is named after Jack Nicklaus.

What is a favorite book that has inspired you?

About ten years ago, I attended the Massachusetts Conference for Women and had the opportunity to meet motivational speaker Grace Killelea. I purchased her book, The Confidence Effect, and she signed it with the most beautiful message.

I read it, loved it, and have followed her on social media ever since. She is truly one of the best motivational speakers. This summer, I decided I needed a little dose of her advice, so I pulled her book off the shelf again.

One of Grace’s messages has always stuck with me: sometimes we just need to make the jump and embrace a little fear . She even put that philosophy into practice by literally jumping out of a plane! Watch Grace Killelea: “Making the Jump: A Year of No Fear”

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I would love to travel to Greece. I’m drawn to places with beautiful scenery, great food, rich history, and the opportunity to experience a different culture.

Tell us about Quinn and Nicklaus!

I love pets! We have two Golden Retrievers—Quinn, who is 8, and Nicklaus, who is 5. They are part of the family and bring plenty of personality and probably a little chaos into our lives!

What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?

A fun fact about me is that I was born on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so I’ve always considered that a special birthday!

I’m also a proud middle child, a bit of a political junkie, and I love to cook. I’m always happy when people discover there’s more to me than my Advancement hat!

For Maureen, her first year at Fontbonne has been defined by relationships, community, and possibility. As she looks ahead, she is excited about strengthening connections with alumnae, families, and friends while helping Fontbonne build upon its remarkable legacy.

The Good Fountain Alumnae Blog

First Stop: Boston!

First Stop: Boston!

God Love a Duck: The Story Behind a Fontbonne Saying

God Love a Duck:

﻿ The Story Behind a Fontbonne Saying

Class of ’08 Rallies Around One of Their Own

Fontbonne's Class of '08

Rallies Around One of Their Own

Meet Maureen Ridings, Fontbonne’s Chief Advancement Officer

Meet Our Chief Advancement Officer ﻿

What is your role at Fontbonne?

How long have you been at Fontbonne?

What inspired you to work at Fontbonne?

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What project or accomplishment are you most proud of?

What do you hope people know about Advancement that they may not realize?

What is your favorite Fontbonne tradition or event?

What advice would you give to someone new to Fontbonne?

How have you seen Fontbonne grow or change during your time here?

Outside of Fontbonne

Tell us a little about yourself outside of work.

What is a favorite book that has inspired you?

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Tell us about Quinn and Nicklaus!

What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?

The Story Behind a Fontbonne Saying

Meet Our Chief Advancement Officer