Your Smile WIll Stay with Us Always…
Program:
Please click HERE to access a copy of the program from the Celebration of Life Service.
In Memory Of Melanie
We are very sorry to announce Melanie’s recent passing.
In her honor, her family and close friends have identified several organizations as
options to donate to in her name. Melanie was and always will be an incredible light that
shined brightly in our lives. We hope to help her light continue to shine.
Melanie Rae Scholarship
The Melanie Rae Scholarship honors the legacy of a remarkable entrepreneur who embodied the true essence of empowerment, innovation, and connection.
Melanie was a passionate advocate for women business owners, dedicating her life to creating solutions that fueled growth, fostering collaboration, and championing equity and inclusion. She had an unparalleled ability to inspire, educate and connect women entrepreneurs, often spotting synergies others overlooked and making introductions that turned ideas into opportunities.
Through her businesses, Guided Business Plan and most recently Plan with Peers, Melanie taught us to push boundaries, think boldly, and persevere.
Sponsored by WBEC-West, this scholarship is for an annual WBENC certification for a woman-owned business. This carries forward Melanie’s passion for uplifting women and her belief that education and access are keys to success. Melanie’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit will continue to inspire generations of women to innovate, collaborate and achieve their dreams.
Women Veterans Alliance
The Women Veterans Alliance's mission is to create a global community for women veterans through networking groups, community events, and conferences worldwide to provide opportunities to connect, grow, and thrive. They contribute to the overall well-being of women veterans through building a supportive community and providing resources and education. Melanie was a remarkable advocate for women veterans, and her passion for the community was truly inspiring. Any memorial funds will be directed toward the organization's small business award, helping to uplift and support women veterans just as Melanie did throughout her life. Melanie spent a lot of time helping veterans interested in small business and entrepreneurship get their ideas off the ground. If you would like to make a donation in her name please click below and list Melanie as "In Memory Of."
Embera Village
The Emberá Village is located in the Chagras National Park in Panamá. It is habitated by a tribe that still lives in traditional villages deep in the rainforest. Proud to share their culture and traditions with visitors, they have lived in this area for centuries, long before there was a country called Panamá and before the first Spanish explorer set foot in the new world. Melanie visited the village in 2023 and made a connection, hoping to provide them with business training. When asked what she wanted to do when her treatment was completed, she stated she wanted to return to work with the Emberá Drua tribe and assist their development. The council remembers Melanie's visit and were saddened to learn of her passing. In honor of her wish to help them, we would like to collect donations in her name. They have earmarked any donations towards building a cultural house for the community and promoting tourism. If you would like to make a donation to the Embera Tribe in honor of Melanie, please send a Zelle to janinekrobinson@hotmail.com (dba Kai Expressions). Melanie's family will be collecting donations and then send in one lump sum to the village directly.
Shady Hill School
Founded in 1915, Shady Hill is an independent, coeducational, day school in Cambridge, MA offering a fundamentally different approach to teaching and learning for children in Beginners through Grade VIII. Shady Hill School fosters joyful, active learning informed by multiple perspectives empowering students to be intellectually adventurous and wholeheartedly just. Melanie spent eleven years at Shady Hill and always kept it close to her heart. She was very appreciative of the creativity it instilled in her both in the arts and in education. If you would like to make a donation to the Shady Hill Fund, to offer resources to families needing assistance to attend, please click below. When you are making your donation please select - SHADY HILL FUND - FINANCIAL AID from the drop down and be sure to add a comment "In Honor Of Melanie Robinson '92."
Melanie & Her Spirit Animal
Embera Village
Embera Village
Shady Hill School
Panama Rainforest
VIB Network