HOW MIRABELLA PREFONTAINE FOUND HER PLACE IN SERVICE
Mirabella’s experience with WMCD began when she attended the 2023 all-nighter, leaving with an experience she could not stop thinking about. Months later, she officially joined the WMCD Youth Team as a sophomore, eager to become part of an organization that was helping people throughout the community while creating unforgettable experiences for her peers.
“As soon as I joined the youth team, I knew I would stay involved with WMCD,” she said. “Being able to do so much good for our local communities while having lots of fun doing it has been so rewarding.”
Over the next two years, Mirabella immersed herself in everything the organization had to offer. Whether she was helping with fundraisers, attending recipient events, or representing WMCD in the community, she embraced every opportunity to contribute.
Of these opportunities, two stood out to her: a youth team car wash fundraiser and a visit to Rick’s Place. Even though the car wash seems simple on the surface, it captured one of the things she loved most about WMCD: people coming together, working hard, but still having fun to support an important cause.
But what left a deeper impression was her visit to Rick’s Place’s “Colors of Grief” exhibit in November 2025, where Mirabella and the youth team spent time reading heartfelt letters and viewing artwork. Seeing these personal experiences of grief and healing gave her a new perspective on how WMCD’s work impacts the community.
“It was a really powerful experience,” she said. “I felt so grateful to be present and support Rick’s Place and the people who are a part of their organization.” This visit served as an important reminder that behind every fundraiser, donation, and volunteer effort are real people whose lives are impacted by the work WMCD does.
She also had the opportunity to help share WMCD’s story with a larger audience when she appeared on Mass Appeal alongside Dominic Monti in early 2025. Despite the challenge of navigating the experience on crutches, she enjoyed every minute of it.
“It was really eye-opening to see just how far WMCD has reached,” she reflected. “Getting to speak on air about all the wonderful things WMCD does was a treat, and I was very happy to be able to share those experiences with the community.”
Experiences like these helped shape her understanding of service and strengthened her confidence in her own ability to create change.
“Being a part of the WMCD Youth Team has been the most rewarding thing I've done in my entire high school career,” she said. “It has taught me so much about the community I'm a part of and many valuable skills that I will take with me into my future.”
Perhaps the most important lesson she learned was realizing that age does not limit impact. “I am now confident in all that I do,” she said. “I know even as a young person I am able to make a difference wherever I go.”
That realization was evident during WMCD’s 2026 closing ceremony, when Mirabella reflected on what the organization meant to her. As she thanked the volunteers, parents, and youth team members who made the experience possible, she spoke about the privilege of being part of something larger than herself.
“Being a part of such an incredible team that can help so many individuals directly, even if we don’t know who they are, is something so much bigger than ourselves,” she said.
This fall, Mirabella will attend the University at Albany to study meteorology and geology. As she begins her next chapter, she carries with her the lessons, experiences, and confidence she developed through WMCD. She carries with her the proof that one person can make a difference – and that a group of young people can make an extraordinary impact.