CLINTON CORNERS — Over 200 family and community members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Madi’s Way learning center at Ruby Hill Farm on Sunday, June. 25.
When Madison Lynch-Dingee died in a car accident on Dec. 21, 2021, she was just days shy of her 17th birthday, a junior on the honor roll at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie. She spent her elementary and junior high school years in the Millbrook Central School District.
With shared custody between mother Louise M. Lynch and father Richard Dingee, Madi, as she was called, spent time with both parents and stepmom Diana Romero. An animal lover and an avid equestrian, she was on her way to a job at a horse stable in Pine Plains, on Route 82 in Millbrook, when she had the accident that took her life.
Dingee and Romero, owners of Ruby Hill Farm, discovered a way of honoring Madi’s passing early on and started working on plans to start Madi’s Way, which would seek to raise awareness about children’s experiences of divorce and grieving.
The charitable organization would encompass a learning center that would enable children to learn about agriculture, gardening and horseback riding, sewing and other endeavors. They wanted to share the joy Madi had in life with other children in a setting that is peaceful, warm and supportive.
On Sunday, June 25, that dream was realized and shared. Attendees included Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati and former state Sen. Sue Serino, who is currently a candidate for Dutchess County executive.
Programs at Madi’s Way include yoga, open sew classes, a puppet event, and workshops to make travel bags, microwave bowls, and cowgirl aprons. A weeklong summer sewing camp is also scheduled. On Sundays during the summer, artists will showcase their crafts.
In the fall, classes are planned for help with the grieving process with a trained therapist. There are charges for the classes, but up-to-date sewing machines are on hand, and for children, most of the supplies are on there. There’s also a scholarship process for children who can’t afford the classes. While some of the teachers volunteer their time, others are professionals who are paid to teach.
The Dingee and Romero families expressed their thanks to family, friends and other well-wishers for joining in the ceremony of Madi’s Way. “Our hearts are full and because of your support we hope to make a difference in the community by offering programs in a peaceful, supportive, and beautiful farm setting. We are blessed for the opportunity to come together, bridging talents with seasoned individuals, sharing skills, and serving our neighbors.”
