Week 143

Positive post Sunday, November 10, 2019- Week 143. 

Could you imagine a community without volunteers?  I can’t.  I don’t believe there is a true understanding or appreciation of how many positions and functions within our communities are held by volunteers and how foundational and critical these volunteers are to the health, sustainability and safety of our communities.  Just think about it, our churches, schools, and civic organizations are full of volunteers who selflessly share their time, talent and treasures.  Simply put, communities could not survive financially or socially without volunteers. 

Service to the communities we live and work in should not only be viewed as an obligation or responsibility but more importantly as a privilege and honor.  I have had the privilege and honor to serve the communities I have lived and worked in for many years and in many ways.  One current example is serving on the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), California Southland Chapter where I have seen firsthand the life changing and saving results of many passionate and gifted volunteers who have donated thousands of hours of their valuable time and raised millions of dollars to fight blood cancers.  

Last night was a very special and emotional night for me personally and thousands of other volunteers who have joined together in the fight against blood cancers.  Many survivors, family and friends who have lost loved ones and those currently fighting for their lives came together for the annual Light The Night Walk.  Light The Night is a series of fundraising campaigns benefiting LLS’s funding of research to find blood cancer cures, culminating in an evening where we bring communities together to celebrate those who are fighting the disease and to honor those we have lost.  May my only uncle Ronald Rendler and my father-in-law Mike Lomen, both of whom had leukemia, be resting in peace.

Great things can happen when your personal and professional lives merge together in unexpected ways, and that has been the case for me with the fight against blood cancers.  I have been deeply blessed with the privilege and honor of leading an amazing group of generous and passionate volunteers and fellow employees at SoCalGas who have been leading the fight against blood cancers for the past several years.  Many have lost loved ones, some are survivors and some are dealing with the disease today.  Together, and with the generous donations of time, talent and treasure of so many employees, families, friends and business partners over the past several years, we will be reaching a major milestone this year, raising over $1million to fight blood cancers!!!  We are taking steps to end cancer. WE LIGHT THE NIGHT.

How have you served the communities you work and live in?