Community Corner
McLean Volunteer of the Week: Kathy Viola
Meet a lady who gives of her time to the very worthy causes supported by Mary Amons' Labels For Love.
Name: Kathy Viola
Career: Co-owner of the firm ‘Consulting Out of the Box’. (http://www.consultingoutofthebox.net/)
Kathy spent seventeen years in the field of shopping center marketing and management field, then became a stay-at-home mom for eight years prior to opening her own company.
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Where Kathy Volunteers: Labels for Love.
Labels for Love was founded and created by Kathy’s good friend Mary Amons. This is a grassroots organization that focuses raises money to support various charities throughout the area. One of their many successful projects was raising funds for a mobile cancer screening vehicle for the Greater DC area, done in partnership with Fran Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer nonprofit.
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Why Kathy volunteers for Labels For Love:
I liked the unique and innovative approach Labels for love takes in partnering the world of high fashion with nonprofits that strive to make the world a better place for everyone. Labels for Love events provide a wonderful opportunity to have fun while supporting charity and bring everyone together for the common good.
What Kathy does for Labels for Love:
Kathy coordinates multiple aspects for their fundraising events including putting together auctions, event day coordination, preliminary contacts and arrangement for various participants and vendors. It’s a big job, and she simply does whatever needs to be done in order to help the events roll smoothly.
Kathy loves the challenge of using her creativity to putting the right pieces together to make something really good, the best that it can be.
Wisdom earned:
In the work I am doing now, I found a niche that I could fill, and do a good job while still maintaining my life/work balance.
So many people feel like they have to do so much. We can’t do everything. It is important to make proper decisions about how much you can give and be happy with how you invest your time.
It’s interesting to ask yourself the question, what keeps you up at night? It helps you identify what in your life is out of balance, making you feel bombarded and overwhelmed.
I find I have to focus on finding the life/work balance that is right and manageable for me.
Hobbies:
Kath loves older rock music, traveling anywhere, but has a special fondness for the Napa Valley. She also loves hockey – Go Capitals!
She also enjoys micro image photography, because of the experience of taking something obvious right in front of you, and when you look closer you see something complexly different. For example when light shines through a plant it brings out the colors and textures in a whole new way. She find it is lovely to see the beauty in ordinary things by stopping to look carefully, and appreciating it in a new way.
“I try to look for the good or the interesting in what is right in front of me. It helps me to be open and embrace all of life that is right in front of me.”
How can I be a part of this?
There are several ways!
If you love fashion, volunteer! It is a great way to network while giving back.
Donate in kind services or products to help raise funds at our events.
Christmas shop for a cause by purchasing an elegant, Christofle designed cross which exhibits a sleek design and an architecture of fluid, undulating lines.
Versatile as a necklace or choker – and the perfect accent to any attire.
This piece is reproduced exclusively for Mary Amons and her charity – Labels for Love, organization bringing financial support and awareness to women’s and children’s causes.
LABELS FOR LOVE
Labels for Love
P.O. Box 577#
McLean, VA 22101
E-mail: info@labelsforlove.org
