Paying it forward as a long-time community volunteer

04/13

After seeing a pile of donated holiday gifts waiting to go to families in need, Diane Trevino, who works at TI in Santa Clara, Calif., was so touched that she immediately became a community volunteer.

Diane remembered how fortunate she felt as a child when strangers donated basic necessities and clothing to her family. She realized she had the opportunity to give back and help make other children's wishes come true.

Twenty three years later, Diane continues to touch thousands of lives every year through her service at the Family Giving Tree (FGT), Sacred Heart Community Service and other area nonprofit organizations. She is also an active participant in TI's community outreach programs and projects.

Diane spends hundreds of hours serving as a volunteer each year and leads by example to encourage children and young adults to be of service to others.

A family affair

At FGT and Sacred Heart Community Service, Diane has served in every possible volunteer role over the past two decades. In addition to her service, Diane recruits family, friends, co-workers and strangers to help.

Four years ago, Diane's daughter set up the FGT's warehouse clothing store. Today, she continues to run the store as a volunteer. Diane's husband, also known as the "Woodworker Elf," built rolling storage carts and a portable stage, and assembled shelves to support the organization's storage needs. In the FGT office, Diane's mother helps the organization with clerical tasks and her father plays Santa to hundreds of children each year.

"Diane and her family has been a pillar in the FGT organization, donating countless hours to our Back-to-School and Holiday Wish Drive and other events throughout the year," said Jennifer Cullenbine, FGT's executive director.

"Her contributions to the organization are staggering and her cheerful spirit has touched the lives of so many that have crossed her path."

At Sacred Heart Community Service, Diane serves Silicon Valley families in need. She spends several hours each month helping in the essential services area by sorting clothing and food. She also volunteers in the housing office and with the "La Mesa Verde" garden project.

At TI, she collects gently used clothing, bedding and jackets all year long and personally drives them to Sacred Heart where they are distributed to individuals and families.

"Diane embodies a life of service," said Matt King at Sacred Heart Community Service.

"She does this all on her own time, even spending her vacations at The Heart. She is motivated by her own experience growing up poor and understanding that many of us are just a paycheck away from needing help."

Touching lives

Each year, Diane helps the FGT fulfill the holiday wishes of over 60,000 low-income children. These children would otherwise go without a gift during the holidays.

In 2012, she helped the FGT provide backpacks filled with basic necessities and materials to over 21,000 low-income students.

Jeanne Clabaugh, FGT's development director, said Diane has been instrumental in the crucial job of mailing out over 100,000 "Holiday Wish Drive" cards to individuals, public and private companies each year. These cards bring in thousands of gifts and monetary donations.

"Diane spends hundreds of hours after work and on weekends assembling packets, and recruits family and friends to pitch in and get the job done each year," Jeanne said.

"We could not do it without her dedication. She is an inspiration to all of us."