Thirteen years ago, I was a stay-at-home mom of three kids, age 10, 9 and 6. I did a lot of volunteering but I was looking for the right opportunity to return to work. My youngest was starting elementary school, and I wanted something flexible so I could be home with the kids when they needed me. Then I ran across the Southern NH edition of Macaroni KID. I loved it and wished there was a local edition. A light bulb went on, and I inquired about becoming a publisher.
In May 2013, I launched Macaroni KID Lowell, followed by Macaroni KID Acton-Lexington in January 2014. Happily, both sites caught the attention of local families, and within a few years, they had over 11,000 subscribers. I spent many enjoyable weekends out at community events meeting local families at our Macaroni KID booth. In 2016, I launched the Greater Lowell Summer Camp Fair, which has become an annual event (even going virtual in 2021!). Macaroni KID was purchased by CertifiKID in 2021 and introduced some changes as well as CertifiKID deals. From 2022-24, Tessa D’Ippolito stepped in as Publisher, doing a fantastic job filling the event calendar and providing great information to local families. I returned in 2024 and have enjoyed reconnecting and continuing to provide information, events and camp fairs.
It's been an amazing experience serving as your Macaroni KID Publisher, and it’s definitely bittersweet to announce that this will be my final newsletter as Publisher.** Time has rolled on, and my children are now adults, with my youngest heading off to college in a few days. I’ve accepted a position at a local company and will no longer be able to work on my Macaroni KID editions.
If you would like to learn about being a Macaroni KID publisher and take over as publisher on either the Lowell or Acton-Lexington edition (or both!), please visit https://joinmacaronikid.com. You can build your own business helping to market local businesses and summer programs and providing information to local families. I've worked with many local businesses and camps over the years, and they are eager to connect with the new publisher. Plus, you'll always be in the know on what’s happening locally, and you'll enjoy free tickets to shows and events in Lowell and Boston as well as travel opportunities! My family has had so many amazing experiences over the years, enjoying Broadway in Boston shows, Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros. Circus, holiday shows at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium and so much more.
Macaroni KID has been a huge part of my family for years, and I will miss connecting with all of you every week. Wishing you tons of family fun!
Thank you all for reading for all these years!
Barbara Evangelista
**Note that Macaroni KID has implemented some automated functions that mean that the newsletters will continue to be published every week and the website will have some local events. Local organizations can also continue to submit their events to the event calendar. However, a local Publisher is essential to a thriving Macaroni KID edition, creating custom local content, adding new and unique events, posting information and video from local fun places, updating all of the annual guides, and providing marketing services to local companies, so please inquire if you’re interested!
