Extreme Teams Spotlight : May
May Thomsen - Fundraising Team
What is your story about how you got involved in Extreme Community Makeover?
I first became involved with Extreme Community Makeover through my church and several friends who volunteered. One of my close friends and board member for ECM, invited me to attend the Art is in the Air event in support of ECM and it was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about ECM’s mission, the neighborhoods we serve and get to know other supporters…as well as a pretty good time! Not too long after, I signed up for my first workday. That was over ten years ago, and I am still encouraged and inspired by the work of ECM and those who come alongside this important mission.
Why are you on the Fundraising Team?
Frederick Buechner once wrote, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I have spent my career in non-profit fund development so fundraising is where my expertise lives but I have also always felt an important call to help connect the needs of the world and our community with people who will find meaning and joy in being able to make an impact with their resources…whether it’s their time, talent or treasure. There is nothing more rewarding to me than serving as a broker between organizations doing remarkable work and generous people who have a heart to make a difference.
What do you enjoy most about being the team leader?
It is important to me to ensure volunteers and supporters understand the impact they are making in our local community but also, more importantly, in the lives of the residents we serve. I value the opportunities to connect one-on-one with our volunteers and supporters to learn more about their ECM story and the impact they dream of making. Helping connect the two is a vital piece of the work we do and ensuring volunteers and supporters know their efforts are valued and impactful is important.
What is a memorable experience from an ECM Work Day?
One of the very first homes I visited on a workday was owned by an elderly woman who had fallen on hard times, physically and financially. She was challenged to keep up with her home and yard due to her ongoing health concerns but on the day we arrived, she was committed to doing whatever she could to help…alongside of us. She spent the day with us, serving as an encourager and a cheerleader and expressing her gratitude for the help too many times to count. I couldn’t help but think in these moments, if one of my grandparents fell on difficult times, I would certainly hope a neighbor would offer to give them a hand.
Even though we came from all over the city, on that day, we were exactly that for this resident…just neighbors willing to offer a helping hand.
If you had one sentence to describe what ECM is about, what would you say?
Bringing communities together through building relationships, “one block at a time.” – I’ve been trained too well! ☺