We’re celebrating National Volunteer Week by introducing you to a handful of our amazing volunteers! Today we’re profiling Heidi Koling, our “go-to gal” at Pablove HQ. If you could bottle up sunshine into human form, Heidi would be it!

I discovered The Pablove Foundation by…
An introduction by my clients, [Pablove Board member] Alan and [True Pablove committee member] Wendy. They always mentioned the events they were going to and things they were doing for the foundation. It seemed like it was a deep part of who they were. They are such awesome people with huge hearts and great taste…I knew that anything they’d be involved with so passionately was going to be worthwhile. The timing was perfect, because I also had an itch to start volunteering in Los Angeles (as it’s something I like to do regularly wherever I live) and I had recently moved here.

I volunteer for The Pablove Foundation by…
Coming in once a week and working in the office. Originally, I wanted to only work with the kids, but I realized that there was a real need for assistance in the office. I do odd jobs around town (like pulling things from storage, shopping for events, and drop-offs), write a lot of thank you cards, and organize spaces. The sort of tasks that can’t always be a first priority for the busy bees who are lucky enough to be Pablove employees. My favorite thing to do, however, is to volunteer for events. Getting a chance to hang with the kids and their families is why I do this. It fills you full of love, you know?

My go-to, can’t-live-without treat is…
ICE CREAM. Totally and completely. Lucky for me, Pablove has an awesome relationship with Pazzo Gelato. Yet another reason why this foundation is perfect for me. 😉

My favorite YouTube video of all time is…
Tan Hong Ming. Just watch! http://youtu.be/UehSJlOQj2I

When I’m not fighting childhood cancer with love I am…
Doing so many things! I should really cut down on my list of hobbies. I am an actress. I pay the bills with that and my own personal house call massage therapy business. I also love baking/cooking, gardening, second-hand shopping, decorating my home with neat antiques, photography, and finding really good music.

My formula for happiness is…

• Cuddling with my main squeezes (Ben and Monster)
• Eating and drinking with friends and family
• Always listening to good music
• Surrounding myself with creative people and things
• Traveling
• Good storytelling with crying and laughing
• Hammocks

I fell in pablove with The Pablove Foundation…
Almost immediately. As soon as I started volunteering, all I felt was immense gratitude from the staff. I can’t tell you how often I hear the words, “thank you.” It means so much for someone to stop in the middle of their busy day and show appreciation, and everyone in the office is incredible about making everyone feel great. The specific moment I feel in pablove, however, was at the Pablove Shutterbugs Gallery Show in the Spring of 2012. When I saw the first family walk in and receive the royal treatment on the red carpet, I realized how seriously everyone at Pablove took their jobs. Their hard work was paying off in the looks on this family’s faces. These families are The Pablove Foundation’s top priority. If I can be a part of helping families dealing with childhood cancer forget about their troubles for five seconds, I’ve done right by this organization by following their example. It’s a lovely opportunity.

Want to join Heidi on our volunteer team? Sign up at pablove.org/get-involved/volunteer and you’ll see why we pablove our volunteers!