Five Years of Giving, Learning and Connection: Volunteer Spotlight on Kimberly Pflieger
When you volunteer your time, you may set out hoping to make a difference for someone else. Along the way, you often discover how much the experience changes you, too. Now beginning her fifth year on The Bridge Youth & Family Services Board of Directors, Kimberly Pflieger has experienced that firsthand. “I joined because I wanted to make a difference in people's lives,” Kimberly shares. “My values and beliefs aligned with The Bridge, and although I didn’t know a lot about The Bridge, I wanted to know more. Fast forward five years, and wow, it’s been a learning process.”
More Than a Seat at the Board Table
Over five years, Kimberly’s involvement has extended well beyond Board meetings. She has represented The Bridge at the Kelowna Pride Festival, Commerce ConneX, Downtown After Five and Pink Shirt Day events; participated in Youth Recovery House fundraising and its groundbreaking; supported Board recruitment and the Executive Director hiring process; and attended community and philanthropy events. Each experience has offered another opportunity to learn about The Bridge, connect with the community, and better understand what it takes to deliver effective nonprofit services.
One particularly meaningful moment came while attending a screening of the documentary UnCharitable. The film challenged some commonly held ideas about nonprofit overhead and sparked an important realization for Kimberly about the people and resources behind charitable organizations. It was an “aha moment” that reinforced for her the importance of investing in skilled, professional staff and the infrastructure organizations need to deliver their missions effectively.
The Value of Getting Involved
After five years, one belief continues to shape Kimberly’s approach to volunteering: “When you give, you receive as much back from giving, and often, even more.” Kimberly would like to see more people discover that experience for themselves. She sees particular opportunity to engage older adults who may have valuable time, experience, energy, and skills to share with organizations in their communities. But encouraging involvement, she believes, begins with something very human: sharing stories. “Heartfelt stories resonate with others because human beings are natural storytellers,” Kimberly explains. Rather than simply telling people why they should volunteer, she encourages people to listen and connect with the experiences of others. “Listen to someone else’s story; it may change your own.”
Finding Connection Beyond The Bridge
Away from her volunteer commitments, nature is where Kimberly feels most at home. The sights, sounds, smells, and colours of the outdoors provide a sense of grounding and connection. Exercise is another important part of her life. After spending 20 years as a personal trainer, staying active remains firmly ingrained in her routine. Retirement has also created more time for another passion: travel. With a love of Latin culture, Kimberly has set herself an ambitious goal of visiting every country in South America. “We live in an incredible world, and I want to see as much as I can before it’s too late.”
That curiosity and openness to new experiences are reflected in Kimberly’s five years with The Bridge. What began with a desire to give back has become an opportunity to learn, build relationships, advocate for the organization, and experience the value of community involvement firsthand.
We are grateful for Kimberly’s five years of commitment to The Bridge and for the many ways she has chosen to contribute at the Board table, at community events, through organizational milestones, and as an ambassador for our work. Her experience is a reminder that volunteering is not only about what we give, but also about the relationships, perspectives, and experiences we gain along the way.
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