Volunteering reveals life’s path

In 2008, I met a smart, talented, charismatic lady named Mary Purvis who at the time was the director of development for Komen Ozark. I had the privilege of meeting Mary while working at Waste Management in Springdale as a sales executive because we had signed on as a sponsor of their fundraiser, Pink Trash Ball.

As part of the Waste Management team, I was asked to help coordinate the sponsorship. So, as someone who had always wanted to find a way to be involved or give back in some way to their community, I jumped at the chance to help paint a dumpster pink!

Little did I know, this would be the beginning of a long, beautiful relationship with Komen Ozark. And I’m not sure if Mary will ever know how much her personal story and encouragement to get involved still means to me today.

After the 2008 Pink Trash Ball was a success, I was asked to join the Pink Trash Ball committee in 2009 as Food and Beverage Chair, which for those of you who know me, F & B is my first love. As I became involved in meetings and met the other volunteers and committee members, I started to realize these people were not like anyone else I had met before.They were driven, dedicated and motivated to not only raise funds for Komen Ozark and our local clinics but also to fiercely fight against breast cancer. Some of those on the committee were even volunteering while going through chemotherapy themselves.

These amazing women set the bar high when it came to integrity and relationships. It was here I started to feel like I was part of something far bigger than myself. As the 2009 Pink Trash Ball was coming to a close, I started to hear whisperings about the upcoming 2010 Race for the Cure.

I was kindly asked by Alison Levin, executive director of Komen Ozark in 2010, if I would like to join the Race for the Cure steering committee as Food and Beverage Chair.

After agreeing to join the steering committee in 2010 I haven’t looked back, as I have been a part of the Race for the Cure steering committee in some shape or form ever since that year.

Whether it’s been in a Food & Beverage role, coordinating National or Local Sponsors, or Operations, I have been involved with Race for the Cure. I have been blessed to work with some of the most amazing, most talented people through the years! And I am privileged to call many of them my friends! Their passion and desire to care for people and fight breast cancer keeps me coming back every year!

I have to say my involvement with Komen Ozark was what fueled my desire to work in non-profit. Now, here at the Food Bank, I get to work every day with a smart, talented, motivated group of people working to fight hunger and feed the food insecure of Northwest Arkansas.

Thank you, Komen Ozark, for showing me my life’s path.