By Sean McCarthy, The New Bedford Light, October 13, 2024
The message on Lyn Dillies’ website is “It’s all about making a difference.”
And she walks it like she talks it. As an entertainer, an educator, an activist, and a volunteer, this Westport resident is touching a variety of lives in a variety of ways — and she’s garnering some significant acclaim and recognition for it.
The once shy 12-year-old girl being bullied at school has grown into one of the most accomplished illusionists in America. And her efforts to improve the lives of others goes far beyond the stage.
In 2013, Dillies’ world-class mastery of magic and illusion made her the first female recipient of a Milbourne Christopher Award from the Society of American Magicians, the industry’s equivalent of an Academy Award. In 2009, her magic talents earned her the International Magicians Society’s Merlin Award as Female Illusionist of the Year. She has also earned awards from the Dove Foundation for Family Programming in 2005, and a Parent’s Choice Award that same year.
Since the COVID pandemic has subsided, Dillies is presenting her illusion performances once or twice a week. While she entertains in performing arts centers and theaters from coast to coast, her resume includes three shows at the esteemed Lincoln Center in Washington.
Dillies is also responsible for the book and DVD, “Learn Magic With Lyn,” which were released in 2005.
But Dillies’ contributions aren’t only in the spotlight. Last July, her efforts to help eradicate hunger in the South Coast resulted in her receiving the Global Goals Galvanizer Award from the Community Collaborative, a nonprofit organization based in New Bedford that helps proliferate the Global Goals priorities which were created by the United Nations’ General Assembly in 2015. Dillies was honored for contributing to the U.N.’s aim of putting an end to hunger.
But that extension of philanthropy wasn’t something she had planned for.
During COVID, Dillies found herself devoting her energies to the Smith Mills Congregational Church in Dartmouth, teaming with her cousin, Scott Stubbs, and other volunteers to form Dartmouth United Outreach, a nonprofit group that distributes food and amenities such as toilet paper to local seniors.
Using the touring truck she ordinarily uses to transport her stage set and props for her magic performances, Dillies began making runs throughout the community, and she eventually became the director of the organization. The group’s overflow of food recipients eventually warranted that they had to team up with the YMCA of South Coast’s “Full Plate Project,” which hosts a food pantry every Tuesday afternoon. Dillies is still involved with the organization.
Lyn Dillies on Dartmouth United Outreach and the South Coast YMCA Full Plate Project: “On the average we help 450 to 500 households on a Tuesday when we distribute the food. That equals about 1,200 to 1,500 people. That’s how much need is out there.”
Born and raised in New Bedford, Dillies sees her magic talents as something else that can be used to benefit others. Since 2008, she has been at the helm of “Your Vote is Magic,” an educational program she presents to high school youth, using magic to instruct and inspire audiences in the civic virtues of voting. The non-partisan presentation has taken her to schools in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. She also performs the show for people of all ages. On Oct. 25th, she will be performing “Your Vote is Magic” [sponsored by the League of Women Voters SouthCoast] to seniors at GNB Voc-Tech High School during the daytime, followed by a free public performance open to the public at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.
We hope you will join us for this event!
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