Osprey Community Foundation

Who do you appreciate?

The Reciprocity of Volunteer Appreciation

April 19-25th is National Volunteer Appreciation Week, a time to recognize the people whose generosity, energy and commitment quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, sustain our communities and vital non-profit organizations. Few embody the spirit of volunteerism more fully that one of Osprey’s board directors, P’nina Shames, whose decades of service has enriched multiple organizations and lives right here in Nelson.

For P’nina, volunteering is deeply personal. “It gives me a sense of contribution and connection,” she says. “I like the feeling of being connected to people doing good work, and it is always good people that volunteer.” That sense of shared purpose is what keeps her volunteering, role after role, year after year.

Over the decades since she came to the Kootenays in the late 70s, P’nina has given her time and efforts to an impressive range of organizations, including the Civic Theatre, Community Food Board, Rotary events, Kootenay Festival of the Arts, Kootenay Mountaineering Club, Nelson Nordic Ski Club, Nelson Community Services, the Provincial Adoptive Families Association and of course as a long standing board member with Osprey Community Foundation.

With Osprey, P’nina is particularly inspired by the Foundation’s commitment to reinvesting in the community through the endowment model and admires how it manages responsibility and continuously gives back. P’nina brings a thoughtful and curious perspective to the board table, pondering questions like when does the endowment reach a tipping point where its capital matches the amount granted out?

P’nina’s engagement reflects a volunteer who doesn’t just show up, but thinks deeply about impact. And while her generosity of her time time may seem one-sided, she explains it is inherently reciprocal. While giving time and effort, she is gaining connection, purpose and a deeper understanding of our community.

Volunteer contributions in the non profit and charitable sector build stronger organizations and our community is made richer by celebrating individuals for their shared efforts.

We appreciate all of our Osprey board directors immensely, for what they bring to the table and to our community with their insights and commitment to serving on our board. 

Reach out and thank a volunteer today!