Our Volunteer of the Month for June is a new face around the corporate office in Tampa: Nicole Haughton! Nicole began with us in April as the executive assistant to our CEO. Originally from Riverdale, NY she relocated to Tampa in 2014 and is very active in various charity organizations. She recently become  a mentor for Infinite Family doing ground-breaking work mentoring under-served South African students. Over the last two months we’ve been fortunate to enjoy her bright smile and positive spirit every day, and we’re so happy to have her in our Greystone family!

Q:  Favorite place to volunteer and why? 
A:  I have a few places that I like to volunteer at: (1) animal shelters (2) video- mentoring children from South Africa and (3) Feeding Tampa Bay (my most recent experience- and I loved every moment of it)

Q:  How many years have you been volunteering?
A:  I have about 6 years volunteering at animal shelters in the capacity of walking dogs and spending 1:1 time with the elderly dog population.

Q:  What advice would you give to someone that wants to start volunteering?
A: I would strongly suggest considering one’s own set of personal values, convictions and interests to help decide where they would best fit. Individuals who connect with their causes on a deeper level and have skills and talents that are specifically relevant in a certain sector can have a greater impact in their work. There is a tremendous amount of personal satisfaction you gain from helping a person or organization and the rewards of service go far beyond that of monetary payment.

Q:  What is your motivation to continue to volunteer?
A:  My motivation to continue volunteering at Infinite Family (infinitefamily.org) is to continue serving as major influence in the children’s lives in South Africa by helping them achieve essential life skills.

Q:  Why do you think it is important to volunteer?
A:  Volunteers contribute to the overall health and well-being of communities around the world. Volunteering can help develop job skills, it can help volunteers explore career options, it can be fun, it can help volunteers feel involved in a cause in which they feel a lot of passion, and it can help create a stronger sense of community responsibility.

Way to go, Nicole!