Tom and Kathy Lamont have been dedicated SSP sponsors and mentors since 1986. Empowering young women has always been of the utmost importance to them. Their connection to SSP dates back to 1986, when they first learned about SSP's mission and programs from a Daily News column by William F. Buckley. Since then, they have sponsored the education of 11 young women at Cathedral High School while also serving as dedicated mentors. Today, their commitment to SSP remains unwavering as they continue to sponsor and mentor a student in the Class of 2027 from Cathedral High School.
Tom recalled the time when he and his wife were introduced to their first mentee. "Our first student recently turned 50, but she’ll always be a scared 13-year-old freshman in our eyes. We’ve kept in touch with nearly all the girls and correspond with them regularly. Most are moms, and the more recent ones are in college and grad school, where we’ve helped them out as well. We really appreciate how SSP has enabled so many young women to have lives they might not have had otherwise," Tom said.
From a 2008 SSP interview with Tom
Though Tom and Kathy have always sponsored their SSP students together, Tom acts as the point person and lead academic coach. He is particularly vigilant during the girls’ freshman and sophomore years, when they are making the difficult transition from middle school to a rigorous college-preparatory high school. In addition to regularly asking the girls about their academic progress, Tom stops by the school and occasionally sees teachers and administrators – some of whom he knows quite well by now.
He can recall many afternoons when one of the Lamonts' SSP students would reluctantly report to his Manhattan office after school to do homework for a couple of hours without any distractions. “There’s always something else going on outside,” Tom recalls. “But I’ll call the parents and say, ‘Can she come to the office and study on such-and-such a day?’, and the answer is always ‘Yes, she can go.’”
“Needless to say, we are very proud of these beautiful young women,” adds Kathy. “Some are still in school, while others are working in the corporate world – all while maintaining households and raising families.”
Kathy and Tom Lamont with their Cathedral Girls (from left): Marlene Gutierrez (’10),
Georgia Ntoas (’94), Kathy, Mallorie Perez (’06), Tom, Aiyisha Daway (’98), and Joanie Diaz
(’90). Each of the girls is holding a photo of herself and the Lamonts on her graduation
day. Tom is holding a photo with Gillian Gallagher (’02), who was unable to attend
