The Marisa Ledesma-Henry Memorial Nanny Scholarship
In December of 2024, one of our most beloved nannies, Marisa Ledesma-Henry, passed away. Marisa – or “Reesa” as she liked to be called – worked with A New England Nanny for more than 15 years.
Reesa came to the agency after working as a live-in nanny in New York City. She continued her passion for childcare with our agency as a full-time nanny, working with more than four different families. She cared for infants and toddlers, and she also had experience working with children who had special needs, and made a tremendous impact on the lives of all the children she touched.
Reesa was caring, professional, experienced, and always put the children first. She also worked in our temporary program, working with families when they needed back-up care. She also enjoyed her time pet sitting and loved to care for the furry family members whenever she had availability.
Reesa shared her joy of teaching and was able to show children how to grow through play, and worked with them using age-appropriate engaging activities. She was also fluent in Spanish, participated in theater productions, enjoyed traveling, and had a strong love for children and animals.
Reesa will be remembered for all she brought to our agency and to the lives of our families. We feel so lucky that she chose to work with us!
To honor her memory, A New England Nanny is announcing an annual scholarship in her name, to be presented each year to two of our most deserving nannies.
This scholarship includes a membership in the International Nanny Association (INA), a global organization dedicated to the in-home child care industry by providing information, education, and guidance to the public and to industry professionals. They offer a wealth of resources for nannies to help them grow in their profession and become even better at their careers.
2025 Marisa Ledesma-Henry Memorial Nanny Scholarship Winners
For our inaugural year, we are proud to announce this year’s winners:
Mallorie Gerwitz
Mallorie has had a connection with A New England Nanny for the last six years. She began working with a local family four years ago when they welcomed home their first baby, and she now has the honor of caring for their second child as well.
Mallorie obtained her Bachelors in Communication Sciences & Disorders with K-12 Education from Nazareth College of Rochester in 2010. Additionally, she went through a rigorous test to be certified as a nanny through INA. Having obtained her Newborn Care Certification through the Newborn Care Training Academy (NCTA), she has helped countless families welcome home their newborns and provided relief and support during those sleepless nights and new beginnings.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking and walking with her dog and boyfriend, traveling, and getting to spoil her nieces and nephews.
Courtney Southwood
Courtney has been in the childcare industry for more than 22 years, working with our agency for more than 12 years as a full-time nanny with a few long-term families. She has also done temp work and group childcare, and has her associate’s degree from Hudson Valley Community College.
Courtney’s heart is really in education, and she loves creating positive and supportive spaces where children can truly shine and grow. She finds it incredibly rewarding to know she’s making a meaningful difference in their world.
Courtney enjoys collaborating with the wonderful families she has the chance to support, and fostering great relationships with her amazing colleagues and community because they all learn from each other.
Courtney feels lucky to be in roles that not only offer a sense of stability, but also provide constant opportunities to learn new things and develop, both personally and professionally.
Her hobbies include boating, kayaking, hiking, photography, and crafting.
We are extremely proud to honor the memory of Reesa by presenting this year’s scholarships to Mallorie and Courtney!
If you’d like to hire one of our amazing caregivers, request a service or give us a call at (518) 348-0400 and we’ll provide a free consultation to get you the care you need.
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