Maureen Parker, Windsor, is the “Volunteer of the Year” for 2008 and was the Volunteer of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Each year, the ING Foundation honors one ING Community Partners volunteer with the honor of “Volunteer of the Year.” This year’s recipient is Maureen Parker, software developer for Rollover-Payout IT in Windsor. Employees have said over and over again that Maureen’s countless contributions to people in need benefit many in the community. Her “can-do” attitude and motivation inspires
others.

Q&A with Maureen

How and why did you begin your volunteer activity?

I have been volunteering since I was a child, going back to the little UNICEF collection boxes at Halloween time. My parents were both active in church and community activities so it was just a natural thing to do. When my daughters were young, I participated in various aspects of their school years by doing everything from elementary school room mother and Girl Scout leader to fund raising for after-school sports programs and chairing the entertainment committee for a non-alcohol high school graduation party. In the corporate community, I have volunteered as long as I have been an employee and was asked to fill in for my manager at a volunteer committee meeting. Whether I volunteer through work or on my own, the experience is always one of enrichment and making a difference in my various communities.

Why should other employees volunteer and make a difference for others?

I have found that it is often just the right thing to do as a citizen (both corporate and private). You never know when you might be in a place that volunteers make your life better in some way. Someone once told me that volunteering that makes a difference in someone’s life is like tossing a pebble into the water which causes ripples. You may never know how far the ripples will go out into the world when you make a difference in someone’s life.

The development opportunities are endless. Every volunteer experience can be an opportunity to develop leadership skills, team building and networking, time and resource management, communication skills, etc.; which can all be done with “on-the-job” training and coaching support.

It is a great morale booster and you could get more out of it than you put in (like just plain fun or a development opportunity). What a wonderful feeling to make a difference in the lives of other people whether you have contact with them or not.
Congratulations Maureen! Maureen earned $5,000 for a nonprofit of her choice as part of this achievement.

2/5/2009