December 01, 2014
Barbara is a Senior Engineering Specialist in our San Diego office and an integral part of the OtterCares Ambassadors team. She spearheaded our first San Diego volunteer fair earlier this year and truly enjoys working to get others involved in the community. Read more below about Barbara’s volunteer work with OtterCares!
Why did you become an OtterCares Ambassador? So that I could make a direct 
impact on people’s lives who are in need and to assist, teach and create opportunities for our employees to volunteer so that they also can help people in need.
Who or what has influenced your volunteer work? It makes me very happy to work for a company that offers such a great program like OtterCares. The OtterCares Foundation provides me with the opportunities to fulfill my desires to help others in need, and to help others understand and learn how to volunteer. Also, it gives us the opportunity to work with youth organizations that support our mission to teach children the values and knowledge of philanthropy and an entrepreneurial way of thinking which will provide continuous growth to the youth with these ideas and support.
What types of volunteer events have you planned in your office? The first volunteer activity I organized for our employees was a day to clean up an area in a State Park that was overtaken by Fennel. Fennel is a very fast growing plant that becomes fuel for fires, and in San Diego this is very dangerous considering we have droughts and very high risk of fires. Another organization we volunteered at was the St. Vincent de Paul Village where we served lunch to the homeless. This was quite an eye-opening experience for some of our employees. Some of the employees felt such overwhelming emotions, that they will be volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul again and again.
Describe your favorite volunteer activity: My favorite volunteer activity is finding and setting up the opportunities for others to volunteer. I enjoy finding the organizations and working with the representatives to learn about their cause and organize ways that our employees can help and make an impactful distance. I enjoy facilitating the creation of relationship building and events with the organizations.
Why do you think the OtterCares purpose is important? It is just so wonderful to work for a company that supports philanthropy and entrepreneurial spirit. These efforts must be supported and are very important to our society. It takes a village is the saying, right? So we are a village and we have the opportunities at our fingertips to make a positive difference in others’ lives in so many ways. We have the ability to help others in need today and to promote this attitude and way of thinking and living our daily lives. It’s a joy to work for a company that provides this generous opportunity to all of its employees.