Avectra Gives Back – Dawn Volunteers for Three Causes

All volunteers are very generous people but sometimes you come across someone who is a super-volunteer – one who gives of their time for more than one cause. And we are fortunate to have one right in our midst here at Avectra – Dawn Terminella. Dawn is Manager of netFORUM Pro Support and she recently shared with me her many volunteer activities and experiences. It’s interesting to read why she chose these particular causes – and how at least one of those choices changed her life! So here, in her own words, is Dawn’s story.

There are several places where my family and I donate our time and money. The first is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I became a Partner in Hope in 2001 and began volunteering at the mid-Atlantic region annual Golf Tournament that same year. It’s one of two days each year that I get up before 4:00am! In 2004, I met a man at the golf tournament who became my husband in 2006. We celebrated our first anniversary at the St. Jude Golf Tournament and, as my Mom said, “what an appropriate place to spend the day!”

Over the years, our volunteering has expanded to helping at the St. Jude Radio-thons and the St. Jude Give Thanks 5K Walk, which takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year. For the first two years, I was on the committee to plan the event. We have participated in all four years (for our son who is 2½, 2012 will be his third walk) by both volunteering and walking with our team “Turkey Nerds for St. Jude”. Our team has been in the top 10 fundraising groups each year.

The second group that I volunteer for is the Badger Honor Flight. The organization is related to the Honor Flight Networkwhich brings in WWII Veterans to Washington, DC to visit the WWII Memorial and other memorials around the DC area. Most of these 85+ year old Veterans have never had the chance to come to DC to see “their” memorial, so the Honor Flight provides that opportunity. The flight and tour is done in ONE DAY! The Veterans arrive at Madison, WI airport at 5:30 a.m., are flown to DC, arriving at 10 a.m. They visit several memorials and Arlington Cemetery, then fly back to Madison at 8:00 p.m. to a Welcome Home party. While most of the Veterans have a family member accompany them to assist as needed, some do not, so I volunteer to be their “guardian” for the day. It’s a wonderful experience and overwhelming to be in the company of nearly 100 heroes!

Finally, I support the Komen Foundation by participating in the “Komen Race for the Cure”. A dear friend and neighbor battled breast cancer for three years before passing away in March 2011, leaving her husband and 8 year-old son. As a tribute to Jessica, we (my husband, son and I) walk with her husband and son in her memory. Next year, we will also be walking in honor of my Mom’s best friend (and maid of honor at her wedding 45 years ago) who has recently battled breast cancer.