Speaking of Service- Words from corporate employees who received a 2008 Volunteer Excellence Award.

“I love working with people, and it makes a difference in other people’s lives.” —Sue Uitenbroek

Sue Uitenbroek -Appleton—Printing and Copying Services

Sue and her husband, Bryan, have two children, ages 16 and 12. Sue is a member of the Appleton Operations Center Chapter. She received the Volunteer Excellence Award in the Employees category and donated her grant to the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of the JDRF and to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering?
A. I first got involved in the Involvement Corp in 1988, an AAL committee that focused on volunteerism. But even before that, I was involved in church and children’s activities. At AAL, I was asked to be involved and help out with various activities. I was involved with the American Cancer Society before the Sole Burner even had our corporate sponsorship. I handled all the logistics for that, pulling together a team of walkers. We didn’t have nearly the number of walkers/runners that we have today.

Q. How did you first get involved in volunteering with Thrivent Financial?
A. I received a call two years ago that the chapter was looking for a president and the person wondered if I would be interested. I had been involved in the STAR Committee for 18 years and was looking for a new group to work with and new opportunities for growth.

Q. Why do you volunteer with your Thrivent chapter?
A. It’s instilling volunteerism in my children. And it’s my self-fulfillment. I love working with people, and it makes a difference in other people’s lives. If we all work together, the impact can be huge.

Q. What’s the most heart-warming activity you’ve been a part of?
A. When my husband and I were dating, we went to the Milwaukee Zoo with a group of kids from the Big Brothers/Pals programs. We were matched up with two little guys—brothers ages 4 and 6. They had more energy than I could believe, but that was the best day I could imagine. You don’t realize how much a child looking for someone can fulfill your needs. The little guy fell asleep on his way home. He broke his glasses on the event, too, and we found a way to fix them when we returned. After that, my husband saw the full benefit of volunteering. We always do things together as a family.

Q. What’s the most unique fund-raising activity you’ve been a part of?
A. We used to have a fitness festival for the American Cancer Society. It was four hours of aerobic activity. We got pledges and exercised from 8 a.m. to noon. It was intense—all aerobic activity, both low and high impact. We got a 5-minute break every hour.

Q. What would you say to someone wanting to get involved with a Thrivent chapter?
A. Don’t even hesitate. It’s like an addiction. Once you start, you can’t stop. You don’t think that little extra time you can provide can make a difference, but it does. We don’t have a lot of extra time, but every minute does matter. And it becomes a priority in your life.

Q. What is your motivation for volunteering?
A. It would have to be the personal fulfillment I feel from helping others.

Q. If the sky was the limit, and neither time nor money stood in the way, what would you like to see accomplished as a result of volunteer efforts?
A. Because of my children, I would like to see every child have an opportunity to volunteer. If we instill it in them now, the world will reap the benefits in the future.