Lora Miele
Ludlow Elementary
Lora Miele, Ludlow’s Elementary preschool director, is a community fundraising rock star. She has consistently discovered ways to bring joy and energy to the Ludlow community through engaging festive activities. “I nominated Lora as a VEHI Thriving rock star because of all she has done to support our community and our community members,” said Amanda Martin, one of her colleagues. “She either participates in or spearheads local races. This past fall she co-produced Light up the Night with colleague, Lisa Marks. She organizes cook offs, bowling competitions, golf outings.” “I believe it’s really important to bring our community together,” said Miele.
When we met with Miele she had just completed the 2018 Boston Marathon, raising money for Tedy’s Team. Along with 35 other Tedy team members, she endured an extremely chilly and wet marathon. Running has been one of Miele’s go to activities for several years. Once upon a time, curious community members would watch her run by pushing her son and her twins in a triple baby jogger on a regular basis.
Miele’s colleagues were full of praise for her on the day we visited. “She has done so much for others and she inspires the younger people who work here,” they said. “She arranges all kind of games, coaches cross country at the high school, has coordinated 5k races to fund equipment for the school’s playground and organized a Walk up Okemo Mountain.
Miele has a flair for creating events to satisfy the community’s sugar cravings through dessert auctions and cupcake wars. “I raised $1400 dollars at the dessert auction event,” she said. “People could taste a variety of desserts prepared by local chefs.” In keeping with her slant toward the power of sweet things, Miele looks forward to the maple sugaring season. “It’s my favorite time of year,” she said. “My family and I hang thirty buckets to collect the sap and boil it down to craft our own small batch of maple syrup.”
