Kathy Golden became involved with Hillsides in 2009 when she became a special friend to a Hillsides resident. She mentored the boy for two years, spending time with him nearly every week. When he was placed with a foster family, Kathy looked for another way to give her talents and energy to Hillsides. In 2013, when she learned that Hillsides was starting a drop-in center to help youth, the Peer Resource Center, she was asked if she would like to take on one of 10 volunteer positions needed to get the Center off the ground. “How about if instead I find volunteers for all those jobs?” she responded. In 2015 she was asked to coordinate the volunteer and mentor program for Youth Moving On.
She went on to create a network of volunteers who offered a wide range of skills, from cooking to budgeting to job training, to help launch the Center. This past holiday season, Kathy organized a drive to collect 75 gift cards for youth in Hillsides Youth Moving On program for youth formerly in foster care or probation. “It’s part of my makeup to give back,” she says. “I’m wired to make a difference.” She will continue to make a difference at Hillsides by heading up a new mentor program at YMO with the goal of finding 40 new mentors for the youth. To join Kathy and become part of YMO’s mentoring program, please contact 626-765-6010.
