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Corey Cutler will never forget the little boy who helped him discover his passion for child welfare.
As a Boston University psychology major and student intern at a Boston-based daycare more than four decades ago, Cutler worked with “Junior,” a young boy identified as having “failure to thrive,” meaning he was missing key growth and developmental milestones. As Cutler got to know Junior, he learned that whenever the little boy was at home, his parents kept him in a darkened room so he would sleep as much as possible without bothering them, and that his “failure to thrive” was likely a direct result of parental neglect.
Cutler couldn’t stop thinking about Junior, and as he wrote a paper about his time working at the daycare, he felt a calling to help young people who were dealing with adverse life experiences. “I knew I needed to help,” he recalls, “and when I did my research I learned that MSPCC was one of the oldest and most well-established child welfare organizations in the country.”
More than four decades have passed since then, and during that time, Cutler has become one of MSPCC’s most steadfast supporters. In addition to personally supporting MSPCC, he has been a tireless advocate for the organization’s work within his network and community. Each year, he brings a group of friends – some of whom are new to learning about MSPCC’s work – to MSPCC’s annual fundraiser so they can hear for themselves about the organization’s impact. Cutler says, “I tell people, this particular organization does such an amazing job helping children. What else could be a better use of your time, money, and support?”
Over the years, Cutler has heard countless stories that have reminded him why he’s committed to supporting MSPCC. Most recently, staff told him about a 20-year-old who suddenly found herself with sole custody of her sister’s infant. Cutler explains, “She didn’t have bottles or a crib or anything she needed, and a baby doesn’t come with a manual. MSPCC stepped up and made sure she had everything she needed, and I think that’s amazing. If someone needs them, MSPCC is there.”
When asked why he supports MSPCC, Cutler cites the organization’s work advocating for family-first policies and the services MSPCC provides that enable children and families to thrive. More than anything, though, he’s drawn to MSPCC’s mission, and the calling he felt so many years ago to help young people remains front and center for him: “In my mind, investing in children is the best use of resources. I think it’s essential to encourage community leaders to support families and advocate for investments in children’s programs. That, to me, is the crux of it all.”
