Meet the one and only, Carrie Kao! Her presence steals all our hearts and brightens the room. As our youngest volunteer, Carrie displays maturity beyond her years and we appreciate her efforts in taking on different roles at our events. Special shoutout to the entire Kao family for their continuous involvement!
Q: Why do you choose to volunteer?
A: To be honest, at the beginning I didn't make the decision that I wanted to be a volunteer. My parents were already volunteering even before I was born and obviously, it led me to follow in their footsteps. But over time, as I matured, I developed a sense of responsibility to help others in my community. As someone fortunate enough to live under good circumstances, I feel that I should do whatever I can to help those who need support and extra help. And whenever I hear from those who come to the events about how grateful they are for what we do, it warms my heart and encourages me to work harder and continue my efforts in aiding those in need.
Q: What attracted you to Wealth by Health’s cause?
A: Before joining, I saw the directors of the foundation as well as their logo and events multiple times but didn't think much of it. And while I did start volunteering with WBH in 2019, I still didn't know much about them. It wasn't until I took part in my COVID Vaccine Clinic in 2021 that I came to my senses and saw how big of a contribution Wealth by Health was making to underserved communities. I am truly astonished about the amount of effort and planning the foundation does in creating the events and the kindness they're spreading. It's fascinating.
Q: What has been your favorite event and why?
A: My favorite events are the free health clinics. Although they take a lot more time and effort, they are worth it. Being able to help so many people is an amazing thing. As someone who never really knew anything about the medical field, I always feel that I'm learning new things. It's also a great time to work and get to know new people as well. The volunteers who come are always so friendly and welcoming. I made a lot of new friends while taking part in free health clinics.
Q: What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time? A: As I've said, seeing happy people brings me joy and makes volunteering worthwhile. Although it's exhausting to be a student, volunteering on weekends brings me excitement and lets me forget (at least temporarily) about how stressed I am about school. Being able to hang out and work with other volunteers also makes the experience worth it.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you are not volunteering?
A: I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family when I'm not volunteering. I also do Hawaiian dancing every week. I've been dancing for about 9 years and highly recommend others to give it a try (open to everybody)!
Q: What is your favorite quote or life motto?
A: "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy" - Nightbirde
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