by Amy Rosenblum
Not only was last Friday the Foothills United Way Day of Caring, it also marked the end of an era at our organization. With nearly 1000 volunteers deployed to nonprofit agencies throughout Boulder and Broomfield counties, I marveled at the commitment of each individual to our community and focused on one in particular, Pat Farrington.
For the past 13 years, Pat worked in our Resource Development department at Foothills United Way spearheading our campaign efforts. Pat retired from her post as our Vice President of Resource Development last week. As we search for another leader for this department over the coming months, I will serve as an interim lead to coordinate the campaigns with an incredible team to make this a flagship year, in Pat’s honor.
As I start my second week in my new role, I naturally reflect on the greatest lesson I learned from Pat. Friendships are key. Pat is known for having great friends in all of her campaigns. As she inspired companies to run a campaign, she usually befriended their campaign coordinator knowing about their families, their jobs, and why they choose to step up to lead their peers for United Way. She would often come back to the office with stories starting, “You wouldn’t believe!” The best was Tuesday afternoons after her Boulder Chamber lunches when she would share about all of her new friends. She considered her colleagues friends. What a gift. This meant that she cared about each of them – and each of us – as more than a company contact or a lead but as a person who contributed to the community we serve. This is the lesson from Pat that I carry into my new position and hope that it permeates all of our work so that we continue to grow as a community.
Even though Pat is no longer with Foothills United Way, the camaraderie that she built over 13 years will serve us all well into the future. Thanks, Pat!
Amy Rosenblum is the Program Coordinator for the Nonprofit Cultivation Center, and will serve as Foothills United Way's Interim Vice President of Resource Development.
