October 12, 2006
CFD volunteer profile: Sandra Madrid – Public service sustains her
Editor’s note: For the duration of the Combined Fund Drive campaign, University Week will spotlight some of the UW faculty and staff who volunteer at agencies supported by the fund.
Name: Sandra Madrid
UW job: Assistant dean for students and community development, UW School of Law.
Volunteer activity: Board chair for United Way of King County.
Organization’s mission: United Way of King County mobilizes our community in ways that no single agency, individual, or government can to enhance the ability of people to care for one another.
How long a volunteer for this agency: I am in my 10th year.
Why these activities? I totally embrace the vision of United Way. We envision an economically robust, safe, healthy, and proactively caring community in which every individual thrives during each stage of life — healthy babies, successful students, engaged adults, and active seniors.
A memorable experience while volunteering: I have had the pleasure over this past year to visit many of the organizations that United Way supports. The experiences have been numerous and heart-inspiring. It would be hard to select just one experience, I’ve been blessed to have many. On a personal level, I have enjoyed the events where I can thank volunteers who give so much of their personal time, wealth and inspiration. We live in such a wonderful giving community. That has been incredibly gratifying.
Satisfaction in volunteering: Public service sustains me. I learned from my mother, who has no formal education, at an early age that the best gifts in life are from giving back to your community. The personal satisfaction of making a difference in someone’s life is extremely powerful and makes life much richer. It doesn’t always have to be monetary. Also, the people I have met, who have crossed my path in this life journey have made me a better, more productive person. It’s all about giving.
