Our Donors: Bruce & Lynn Bay Dayton

Bruce & Lynn Bay Dayton

Chestnut Hill, Newton, Massachusetts
Supporter since 2001

Bruce and Lynn Bay Dayton met at culinary school in California before Lynn’s graduate studies in culinary history brought them to the Boston area, where they settled and welcomed two children, now in their 20s. Their longstanding support for NBSS is as much about their respect for its crafts and trades as it is about the School’s community, which they describe as a family. And, for both, giving means not just fiscal support, but also sharing their time and passions.

In addition to his decades-long service on the NBSS Board of Directors, Bruce volunteers weekly at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He keeps his baking skills sharp (many at NBSS know the thrill of seeing Bruce arrive with a tray of his famous King Arthur Cakey Brownies) and loves motorcycling, hiking, and spending time outdoors. Lynn enjoyed a successful career as a professional chef-turned-event planner, caterer, and food writer before running her own interior design firm and furniture store. Throughout her busy career, she has also served on countless nonprofit committees, fundraising for everything from animal rescue to the Mass General Cancer Center and sitting on the boards of her children’s schools, Concord Academy and Carroll School. Lynn is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at GBH, where she has served for over 20 years.

Why do you support NBSS, and what keeps you involved?

BRUCE: NBSS is the flat-out coolest place I’ve ever seen. Because I come from the culinary world, there is something about the craft, the people, and the tradition of what they do at the School that just sits well with me. I’ve served on a few boards that feel like the 30,000-foot view, which is all well and good, but I get much more out of the human connection, which is exactly what I get at NBSS. 

LYNN: NBSS has always been very special to us because of the people. Bruce and I were both chefs, and I’m also a designer and do needlepoint and painting. We have a deep appreciation for skill and attention to detail.

Can you share a story or moment at NBSS that particularly inspired or moved you?

BRUCE: I served on an NBSS scholarship committee, and we would read letters from students. A number of students were willing to work two jobs, maybe three, while in school. Many students stay as long as they can every single day, and they come in on Saturday and don’t leave until they’re told they have to. They would come on Sundays if the building were open. That just floored me. 

LYNN: My friend and I took a weekend Community Education bookbinding class, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for just how gifted the NBSS instructors are. It was amazing to see how the instructors took us from knowing zero about bookmaking to leaving on Sunday afternoon with books that we made by hand. It was the coolest thing ever.

How would you describe NBSS in a few words or phrases?

BRUCE: Rich in culture. High level of mutual respect, personally and professionally. Dedication captures the students, faculty, and family at NBSS. When I walk in the door, it makes me want to try a little harder.

LYNN: NBSS is a unique legacy organization that preserves the art of making things by hand—manipulating woods, metals, stones, or papers into something magical. That is worth preserving.

Complete this sentence: My favorite thing about NBSS is ____.

BRUCE: The craft and traditions. They go back so far, and we are richer for it. 

LYNN: What it represents to Boston’s history. Boston is so full of firsts, and NBSS is the first school of its kind in the country. Today, we’re the beneficiaries of being able to visit right in our own backyard.

What would we lose if NBSS didn’t exist?

BRUCE: It would be like paint-by-numbers without the color. You may still see the picture, but it would never be as nice.

LYNN: We would lose an opportunity for human beings to realize their potential in the area of arts and crafts. I’m also an advisor at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. I love art and have such an appreciation for someone who can take a gift, hone it, and then share it with the world. Without NBSS, we would lose an incredible opportunity to continue that human desire to appreciate and create things that have meaning.

What motivates or inspires you in your philanthropic work?

BRUCE: I grew up in Minneapolis, and my dad and his four brothers ran the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, which owned Target, where my dad served as the first president. My parents, uncles, and aunts instilled in us a responsibility to give back to our community. And I learned early on that I connected much more with people than with institutions. 

LYNN: We typically give within the local community, to organizations that have an educational component. For us, it’s not only about giving our money, but also our time—serving on boards and participating in the organization.

What advice would you give someone considering supporting NBSS?

BRUCE: NBSS is a big, extended family—a large group of very fine people. Take a class, visit the School, and get to know the culture at NBSS. It is wonderful, in every sense of the word.

LYNN: If you are interested in what NBSS does, then have a conversation, attend an event, or go to an Open House. The School is worth supporting. It is incredibly well fiscally managed, and that’s always a great thing for donors to know—that it is stewarded and cared for in a responsible way.

This story is from our FY 2025 issue of Annual Report. Read more stories from the issue or view past issues.