Lovely Young Ladies

I have been an active volunteer in my community for the past 15 years, since Maggie was about a year old. I have served as a member of the board of director of several non-profits, usually two or three at a time. Currently I am involved with four separate organizations, all dealing with issues involving children. Four is too many, though, and I am stepping down from one to concentrate on the other three, which are organizations that have directly benefitted Maggie or my boys at some point in their lives.


Like so many other good things in my life, my introduction to the non-profit world came via Maggie. Of course, I knew it existed before Maggie was born but my participation was limited to the occasional check and arm lengthening exercises so that I could give myself a strong pat on my own back. When Maggie was born, non-profits focusing on disabled children became great resources for me. For example, the Blind Babies foundation sent Jeri Hart, a home counselor, to us. She was the first to show me how to look at what Maggie COULD do instead of what she could NOT do. That changed my attitude about the challenges Maggie faces and thus changed my life. I wanted to pay back what I could and when they asked, I joined the board. That was the first of at least eight non-profits with which I have been involved.

For some people, it does not take a life-altering event like Maggie to jump in and help.  I like to think of myself as a person who is generous with my time and talents, but this was not on my radar until I got a wakeup call. Some get involved without the wakeup call or feeling they want to pay anything back. Some just jump in and help. This impresses me

I was particularly impressed by the group of young women on the event committee for a fundraiser just sponsored by one of the organizations I work with. All are in their mid 20s, working in various fields. Some have a connection to one of us “older” women on the committee, daughter, niece, friend. Some are there because their friends have that connection. None of them is connected with or benefits from the work of this particular non-profit. They are young professional women who can do anything they want. They just got involved to be involved, do something positive and spend time together.

They energized the committee and the event getting many of their young friends involved. They showed up at the meetings, and listened politely to all the “over 50” women talk and over analyze every facet of the event. When they left the meetings, they solicited many if not most of the donations of wine for the event and gifts of every type for the silent auction. They encouraged their friends to attend the event and breathed life into the fundraiser. Though I have no idea how much money we raised, I know the event was a huge success and everyone had a fabulous time.

I certainly was not doing anything like that when I was their age and despite my lengthy experience with non-profits, I have not seen folks in this age group involved in any of the other organizations with which I have been affiliated. I have to tip my hat to each of them. They just jumped in and had fun helping. I doubt any of them even do arm lengthening exercises to pat themselves on the back, so I am going to do it for them.

Lexi, Kelli, Annie, Morgan, Leigh and Melissa, You are amazing and generous young women. Your work is appreciated and your willingness to be involved commendable. Thank you.

To those of you reading this, go out and volunteer. It is a good thing to do and you may actually find yourself having fun.