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Meet Your Neighbor: Meet The Neighbor – Donna Millwood
By Callie Thomas
Donna Millwood loves a challenge, so it’s no wonder that the 89123 resident loves her job as the finance and volunteer services manager for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. It’s not because the day to day work is particularly difficult (in fact, Millwood would consider it a labor of love) but rather because of the challenge she placed on herself to increase and improve the volunteer program for the Shriners Hospitals premiere annual fundraising event. However, Millwood has already met that challenge as she’s successfully doubled the number of volunteers since she took over the program in 2009. True to her nature, she created a new one—a youth mentor program for the tournament that offers opportunities for at-risk youth from ages 12 to 21 the chance to shadow tournament volunteers. Something tells us that this new initiative will be a rousing success this year as well.
What might be more difficult for Donna Millwood is to maintain her composure when hearing the many stories that are shared by parents of patients and former patients about how the Shriners Hospitals have helped them and changed their lives. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 nonprofit hospitals across North America. Children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (www.jtshrinersopen.com ) helps raise awareness and money for Shriners Hospitals for Children. All proceeds from the tournament, which is played annually in October at TPC Summerlin and hosted by recording star Justin Timberlake, benefit the hospitals. Donna talked with us about her passion for helping others, her determination to reach her goals and why it isn’t always easy to be tear-free in her line of work.
Tell us a bit about your job. What does the day to day work entail?
“My job puts me in contact with numerous Las Vegas residents and people across the United States who want to give back to the community and volunteer their time for a great cause.”
You keep challenging yourself in your job.
“Yes, I wanted to improve our volunteer program and we have successfully increased our number of volunteers from 500 to more than 1,000 last year.”
What was your inspiration for pairing at-risk youth with the volunteers?
“I am passionate about being a mom and through the Open I have been able to dabble and explore my interests in working with children who are at risk and creating opportunities to make a difference in their lives.”
What is one of your most memorable experiences with the organization?
“A local two-year old, Alissa Perkins, and her family came to the Youth Clinic and had noticed Katie Walker, who was the Shriners Hospitals for Children patient ambassador. Alissa and her family were seeking answers on Alissa’s condition, Fibular Hemimelia, as she was born missing her fibula. After speaking with Katie, Alissa’s parents were introduced to the hospitals and made arrangements for her to receive her first prosthetic leg.”
It’s hard to hear those stories and not get a little teary-eyed.
“Yes. It brought me to tears to see this introduction take place, all because of our tournament. That day, we were able to help one local girl receive the treatment she needed.”
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
“I am proud of creating challenges for myself and going after them, but I am most proud of my daughters and the women they have grown up to become. My successes are a result of the support from my family, including my husband Larry, my daughters and my little two and a half year old grandson.”
Any advice or life inspiration you’d like to share?
“For everything, there is a reason. Embrace it and learn from it.”
