We all know volunteering is a great way to spend your extra time. Whether it’s a one-time deal or once-a-week commitment, giving back to the community always leaves you feeling peacefully satisfied, content in your showing of gratitude.
One volunteer-based group leads the way in helping Kentuckians find organizations to give back to––The United Way of the Bluegrass. Pam Seimer, executive vice president, is one of the many faces behind the scenes of this great organization.
“I’ve worked for nonprofit groups all my life,” said Pam, who has been with the United Way for four years. “The United Way is such a wonderful year-round organization and we do a tremendous amount of fundraising. We do early childhood education, Get On Board, 2-1-1 connects people with services…”
Although Pam works 9 to 5 for one of the biggest nonprofit organizations in the state, she still finds time to volunteer herself.
“I’m on the LexArts public mural board; we’re working to introduce public art in different neighborhoods,” said Pam. “I’m also involved with Gates to Growth, a program in Woodford County with horses and at-risk kids…I think you can work for a nonprofit but it’s important to be involved in the community.”
Meet Pam
Name: Pam Siemer
Birthplace: New York City
Current Neighborhood: Hartland
Family: Wonderful husband, a fantastic son and daughter-in-law, two lovely stepdaughters, a very funny stepson and two unbelieveable grandchildren.
Hobbies: Tennis and piano
Favorite area restaurant or dish? Rossi’s
Favorite Lexington landmark? Keeneland
What was your first job? Waitress
What was your first car? Dodge Dart (red with a white stripe!)
What was the last movie you saw? Charlie Wilson’s War
What is your favorite comfort food? Pot roast
What’s the hardest part of your job? Not being able to raise enough funds to meet all the growing health and social service needs in our community.
What was the proudest moment in your career? Spearheading the funding and construction of a new and expanded airport facility at a university in southern Ohio.
What do you wish you had known 10 years ago? How fast life goes.
What’s the best advice you have for someone new in your field? Be passionate about what you do, ethical in what you do and true to yourself in how you go about doing it.
What are your retirement plans? Not ready to retire but when I am I want to be near water, family and good friends and to devote whatever expertise I have accumulated, to worthy humanitarian causes.
What was your last big purchase? An electric piano
What do you collect? Friends
What is your favorite charitable cause? United Way, of course.