Since 2019, Natalie has been a volunteer with the BLC. From youth tutoring to volunteering at the Benefit for the Backside, her enthusiasm working with our community has been insurmountable.
Natalie has been a fan of horses for as long as she can remember. This drew her to watch horse racing as a way to see them on TV, and she went on to win an essay contest to attend the Kentucky Oaks and Derby when she was 16. It makes sense that years later—when she was looking for a bigger city to move to with more opportunities than her hometown in Michigan— she chose Louisville.
In Louisville, her search for community online led her to the BLC. She started volunteering in 2019. However, what really stood out to her was the opportunity to work with kids at the horsemanship camp in 2021. Here, the volunteers helped provide an educational experience for kids of the BLC as they learned how to ride and care for horses. From there, she began helping with Conversation Partners as well as becoming a one-on-one adult tutor. She describes Conversation Partners as a fun time where you end up laughing a lot. “You can see the student progress and connect on a deeper level,” Natalie said.
Natalie has also been a huge help at our annual Benefit for the Backside for two years in a row! This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the BLC. Natalie says that it was neat to see clients of the BLC be recognized at the event. “It is cool to see that they have been able to benefit and enjoy their time with the BLC. It is not just about services, but about connecting”.
Currently, Natalie is volunteering with Front Runners after-school program. She admires the program for the variety of resources it offers to the students from a healthy snack to productive homework time and fun icebreakers. It also gives the students a chance to interact with people of different ages, which will benefit them later in life.
It seems Natalie has helped in every area of the BLC! We are extremely grateful to her involvement and the difference she is making as a volunteer. Thank you!
