The Lori Kauffman Volunteer Of The Month Award

Kim Goforth is the recipient of the February 2011 Lori Kauffman Volunteer of the Month Award

If there is anyone who knows the ins and outs of GRRA™, it's Kim Goforth, February's Volunteer of the Month. Kim started with the group 9 years ago. "I was looking for an avenue for volunteer time, and I went back to the two breeds from my childhood - goldens and labs," explains Kim. At the time, Kim was pregnant with her first child so she wanted to be able to balance her volunteer time with the demands of being a new mom. "I contacted the group, and they started me off as an Adoption Consultant," she says. Since that time, Kim has literally volunteered for almost every position. "Let's put it this way," she says, laughing, "I have done every job but Foster Home Coordinator!" For a little over a year now, Kim has been volunteering mainly as the Intake Coordinator, but she also works as on-going Salesforce Administrator and Director of Dog Rescue Operations.

Though Kim has an intimate understanding of how GRRA™ works, she has never lost sight of why people want to offer their time and support. "The personal aspect is people join a rescue to help the animals," she explains. "Our true mission is the dogs and how we can help them the best." Kim could probably write a book full of happy rescue stories. For example, Poppy - thrown from a pick up truck while pregnant and obviously mistreated, now living a great new life because of the camaraderie of GRRA™ members and the vet clinics involved. Or two girls, Autumn and Sadie, who came to the rescue so connected that they would share each other's meals. They were adopted by a wonderful woman from Tennessee who put in an application for "two girls" - she drove to the Georgia/Tennessee border to meet their foster mom - it was a perfect match and she ended up driving home with them that night! "When I look at dogs who end up in the most wonderful homes, that's what keeps me doing this," says Kim. "If we're doing right by our dogs, then we've really helped a family get a spectacular new member. We always want the dogs to win."

Kim is stepping into her new role as a board member over Intake, a less time consuming position she hopes, as her kids are involved in various activities and they have a busier schedule. "Now is my time to be strategic rather than tactical," she says. "It's time for me to be the support!"

As she transitions, Kim still firmly believes her job is to protect the dogs since so many of the steps, from the rescue to the adoption, fall under her. "The reality is, there are reasons for why we do what we do," she says. "Dogs that come into our program always trade up and that's the reward."

Thank you Kim, for your amazing passion and dedication to GRRA™! Kim's dog, Bailey, is pictured above.

Lori Kauffman, who passed away in 2007, was a GRRA™ volunteer who wanted to ensure that GRRA™ continued to do its valuable work. Lori wanted people to know, "Dogs are not disposable. Having a dog is a lifelong commitment. They are an equal part of the family".

If you are aware of a volunteer's efforts that exemplify what is needed to make our volunteer organization survive and thrive, please send a note to volunteer@grra.com. Monthly Nominations are due by the 17th of each month. Click here to see previous award winners.