Alumni Spotlight: Lydia Russo

Class of 2010

Degree:

Hometown:

Vienna, Va.

Current Role:

Founder of the One Neighborhood Foundation

Where are you from and what brought you to Marymount?

I was raised in Northern Virginia and attended Flint Hill School in Oakton. I applied to Marymount because I liked that it was close to home. I always knew Northern Virginia was where I wanted to live long term, and Marymount allowed me to stay deeply connected to my family and community. I’m very involved in my town and have been volunteering with the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 20 years now. While I was at Marymount, I was already volunteering there as an administrative member, helping with events, fundraisers, and community initiatives.

I originally chose fashion because I loved the creative side of it. I started in fashion design but transitioned into merchandising after joining the Fashion Club. Becoming involved in the club completely opened my world. I eventually became Fashion Club president and served as a head coordinator for Marymount’s Portfolio in Motion fashion show. That leadership experience showed me that I loved planning, delegating, and running events more than designing clothing itself. I realized I was more of a strategist and organizer, the person behind the scenes bringing everything together.

How would you describe your overall experience at Marymount?

My experience was incredibly special. The fashion professors were truly incredible. I tell people they are like my fairy godmothers! They took me under their wings and supported me in every way. They allowed me to serve as a teaching aid and really brainstorm how we could elevate and innovate the courses being taught. Those professors didn’t just teach me; they mentored me through big life moments. Even now, 15 years later, I still talk to them. The friendships and mentorships I gained there have lasted a lifetime.

How did the idea for the One Neighborhood Foundation come about?

I’ve always had a heart for service and made time to volunteer my time and energy, not because I had to, but because I genuinely love it. I was volunteering during my time at Marymount and continued to do so as I navigated my career, working for Neiman Marcus’ corporate offices and now in the family real estate business.

In 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was caring for my high-risk mother and stayed home as much as possible. I had the idea to start a Facebook group called Vienna VA Foodies — which now has over 50,000 members — where community members shared local restaurant recommendations so we could support some of the local businesses that needed customers.

One day, I suggested organizing meals for our local firefighters to support both first responders and local restaurants. What started as a simple idea quickly grew into providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for firefighters for six months straight. People began donating meals, desserts, and funds. I would post photos daily of firefighters receiving food, and the group grew rapidly. Soon, people suggested expanding the effort to nurses, doctors, postal workers, and sanitation workers. It became a full kindness movement across the town.

Over time, the movement evolved, and today we primarily serve food-insecure families. One Neighborhood Foundation is now a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We are 100% volunteer-run, no one receives a salary and all of the donations go straight to providing meals to community members. We work closely with school counselors and social workers who identify families in need, and we coordinate large meal deliveries so families can take warm, nutritious food home. We truly believe that food can heal and that having a hot meal can help communicate a sense of comfort, love, dignity and reassurance to those who need it most.

What has it been like to see the One Neighborhood Foundation grow over the past five years? What does it mean to you?

It has been incredible to see the way that it has really become a community movement. People are so creative about how they fundraise and find ways to give back. We have members who host lemonade stands, bake sales, Reiki sessions and Christmas light shows.

We also have local businesses and larger corporations that have partnered with us. One of our newest initiatives is One Neighborhood Wine, launched with a local wine shop, where every bottle sold supports food-insecure families. We also recently partnered with Amazon, where their team packed over 60 food bags that we delivered to a local school.

I never imagined my career would lead me here. I started in fashion, moved into real estate, but this nonprofit work is my true calling. It completes me. I lost my mom last year, and seeing her pride in this work meant everything. Carrying on her legacy through service is my definition of success.

Why do you think it is important to give back to your community and how do you encourage others to do the same?

One of my favorite things is returning to Marymount to speak with students about the real impact of service. I firmly believe that reaching back and pulling up the next generation is one of the most meaningful things we can do. I’ve always valued the principles Marymount instilled: be a good person, treat your neighbors with kindness and lead with compassion. That’s why our organization is called One Neighborhood Foundation, because we’re all one community, one family.

I always try to tell students and young people that volunteering is not just for the people you are serving, it’s also for them. It’s easy to get lost in material things, especially during the holidays. But giving your time and love to others brings a kind of fulfillment nothing else can. At the end of life, what really matters is how you treated people, whether you were kind and whether you gave back.

What advice would you give to current students looking to make the most of their college experience?

Get involved, especially in service. When I was a student, I would reach out to organizations and say, “Hi, I’m a Marymount student. How can I help?” That’s how doors opened for me.

I met people from nonprofits, politics, hotels and countless industries simply by volunteering. When it came time to graduate, I didn’t even have to apply for jobs, people already knew me and wanted to hire me.

Figure out what you’re good at and find an organization that needs your skills. If you’re organized, offer to schedule or plan events. If you’re a writer, offer to help with marketing or social media. Offer your skills. Give a little, and it will come back to you tenfold. Because every experience, even the ones that seem unrelated to your career goals, will lead you where you’re meant to be.