At the end of last year, Home Start hired a shiny new Development and Events Manager and her name is Ashley Dawson. In order to introduce her as part of our family, we asked Ashley to share a little bit about herself.
Welcome Ashley! So, where did you come from?
I worked in HR and the administrative world for about 8 years and volunteered for a few non-profit’s for about 5 years. I was loving my volunteer work more than my job, so I decided to take a leap and look for a career in the non-profit world. That was in January of 2019 and I then found my way to Home Start at the end of that same year.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Home Start so far?
Knowing the difference we make every day. One of the first programs I worked on when I started was Adopt-a-Family and hearing the stories of the families we served over the holiday was so heart-warming, especially when we started receiving the thank you letters. It really makes you take a step back and appreciate the good work that our staff is doing.
What do you think is the most important aspect of your new position?
Teamwork! We are all here to help and that includes helping each other which I believe our staff is so great at. In the short time I have been here, I have felt nothing but support from this group and already feel like I have been part of the “family” for years!
“We are small, but mighty. We all wear multiple hats and each staff member is willing to help out where and when necessary which is very refreshing.”
And, what do you enjoy when you’re not at work?
I spend a lot of my free time volunteering with Junior League of San Diego who is a huge supporter of Home Start. I have a 5 year old nephew, Parker and a 1 year old niece, Reese who are my favorite people! I love watching Gulls hockey with my nephew, Parker and anything outdoors!
Do you have a favorite Home Start moment?
At the most recent Toy Distribution event in December, we had bikes to raffle off. The woman who won a bike for her daughter was so emotional and that makes you realize why we are here and do what we do. We are so lucky to be able to serve.
Thank you Ashley!
We are very excited to have Ashley on board and are looking forward to her helping us grow. She’s already taken the lead on several projects, including the positioning of our new Bright Futures Candles enterprise as well as getting ready for our upcoming Blue Ribbon Extravaganza in April. It’s no small job, but we know she’s going to do great things.