Celebrating National Volunteer Month
Team Tighe & Bond is celebrating National Volunteer Month throughout April by recognizing employees who volunteer in their community. “Make A Difference” is our employee volunteerism recognition program established in 2017 to support and encourage employees in their efforts to give back. Below are just some of our team who have volunteered for 100 hours or more for organizations.
Linda Pauly-Tenanes
Dakin Humane Society
Linda is a drafter and designer who has worked for Tighe & Bond for nearly 50 years and has been a committed community volunteer even before the start of the Make A Difference Program. Through the program, she has been recognized for the last six years for giving 100 hours or more of her time to the Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, MA.
What is your role with the organization?
“I’m a fundraising volunteer. I maintain several donation collection sites set up at local businesses throughout Pioneer Valley. I collect donations every few weeks and remit them to Dakin along with a personal donation. Annually I help collect anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 in donations.”
How long have you been volunteering for this organization?
“I have been officially volunteering for Dakin since 2012. But my mother and family friend started fundraising over 20 years ago, so when I started I took over the fundraising efforts my mother already started.”
What would you like people to know about this organization and your experience volunteering?
“Dakin Humane Society is more than a pet adoption center – it offers a variety of services such as low-cost spay/neuter clinics, vaccine clinics, a pet food aid program, pet loss support groups, dog grooming, a thrift shop, and more. Dakin is a donation-based organization – they do not receive any federal or state funding and heavily rely on volunteers. The Dakin staff are so appreciative of their volunteers and donations.”
How can others help your fundraising efforts?
“Dakin has an upcoming event where you can fundraise and bring your dog with your to participate. They host the Will Run for Cookies 5K in Westfield, MA on May 7th.”
Brian Opp
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Principal Engineer Brian Opp has been a volunteer for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary since 2012. Brian has volunteered more than 100 hours through our Make a Difference program for two years.
What is your role with the organization?
“I’m a Flotilla Commander. This means I make sure the overall Flotilla program or unit of volunteers conforms to Coast Guard and Auxiliary Policies and procedures.”
What would you like people to know about this organization and your experience volunteering?
“The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, all-volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. The Auxiliary was created by an Act of Congress in 1939 and has grown to over 32,000 members who daily support the Coast Guard in all its non-military, and non-law-enforcement missions. Auxiliary members conduct safety patrols on local waterways, assist in Search and Rescue, teach boating safety classes, conduct free vessel safety checks for the public, provide boating safety literature to dealers, as well as many other activities related to recreational boating safety.”
Why do you participate in the Make A Difference Program?
“I enjoy giving back to the community and I want to help educate others about the benefits of volunteering one’s time.”
April Lassard
Western Mass Mom Prom
Vice President April Lassard has been recognized for more than 100 hours of volunteering each year by the Make A Difference program for the last 5 years. One organization she is heavily involved in is the Western Mass Mom Prom.
What is your role with the organization?
“In 2022, as part of the committee, I assisted with fundraising efforts including a Ladies Only Prom and a Purse Bingo events, as well as, behind-the-scenes administrative tasks, raffle basket creations, and donation coordination.”
What would you like people to know about this organization and your experience volunteering?
“Our organization is part of a Nationwide Mom Prom movement (not just for Moms!). Events are held across the country in which each individual Mom Prom committee/organization selects a fundraiser they are passionate about and then creates fun events throughout the year, with the final event being an actual prom, with proceeds going to a cause of their choosing. Our 501C3 non-profit selected cancer research and services. We not only raise funds for the fight against cancer, we also support cancer survivors and warriors, giving them a free ticket to our events, including our annual Ladies Only Prom Event. The “Pink Pass” recipients get treated to the works, right down to the dress, hair and make-up, special raffles, and goodie bags just for them. They are given the opportunity to let loose and have fun, dancing the night away, and taking pictures in the photo booth; the event is a night to just forget about their treatments or to celebrate with their friends and family. The event is electric, with a room full of women supporting each other and sharing laughter, and while it is only one night, the memories are made to last.”
Why do you participate in the Make A Difference Program?
“I’ve been volunteering in one capacity or another for over 30 years, mainly raising funds towards the fight against cancer as multiple generations in my family have been affected. Over those 30+ years, my co-worker’s at Tighe & Bond and the firm have always been so supportive, whether it has been attending events, providing monetary donations, or participating in in-house events created to raise funds.”
Why do you think volunteering is important?
“Everyone needs outlets in their lives that give them the chance to make a difference. Hobbies tap into your creative side, volunteering sparks something different that is hard to explain, while it is a lot of hard work, more than some would think, the moment you connect with someone that benefits from your hard work and you see that you made a difference, you know giving of your time is time well spent.”