It’s no surprise that when volunteers enjoy their roles, they are more likely to continue contributing. Research shows that 80% of satisfied volunteers are eager to keep donating their time, with three-quarters acknowledging the positive impact on their mental health and well-being. For Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), ensuring the happiness and well-being of its volunteers—and the residents they support—is a top priority. Helping make this vision a reality is volunteer extraordinaire, Cindie Chafe.
From Compliance to Compassion
Born in Nebraska and raised in California, Cindie spent much of her career in credit unions, eventually becoming VP of Compliance for a local branch. After retiring two years ago, she found her next chapter through a serendipitous encounter with BCHD. While attending a 5K event, Cindie visited BCHD’s booth and discovered a role that perfectly matched her extensive administrative and management skills: “Purpose Connector.”
“Being matched to a voluntary position that I love is the perfect example of what I aim to achieve in my role,” said Cindie.
Connecting People to Their Purpose
As a Purpose Connector, Cindie spends one day a week reviewing volunteer applications and chatting with candidates, aged 14 to 85, to understand their skills, interests, and availability. From there, she works to align their abilities with BCHD’s needs, ensuring every volunteer finds a fulfilling role.
Whether it’s giving teenagers the confidence to make a positive impact or helping adults balance volunteering with busy family lives, Cindie excels at finding purpose in everyone. “We will always find skills in everyone that can support BCHD’s mission. It’s incredibly rewarding,” she shared.
A Versatile Volunteer
In addition to her Purpose Connector duties, Cindie serves as a Front Desk Volunteer, assisting with tasks like answering phones and providing administrative support. Her dedication and positivity have not gone unnoticed. Leslie Kolczak, Volunteer Services Assistant at BCHD, said, “Cindie has been an incredible asset to our team. Her empathetic nature and ability to connect with candidates ensure they are matched to roles where they thrive. We’re so lucky to have her!”
Living with Purpose and Joy
Outside of her volunteering, Cindie leads a vibrant life. She enjoys spending time with her siblings, three sons, and four grandchildren, hiking, traveling, and visiting her son on the East Coast. As the secretary of the Hermosa Beach Lawn Bowling Club and a professional dog walker, she finds fulfillment in every aspect of her life.
But for Cindie, the highlight of her volunteering journey is seeing the volunteers she matched succeed and flourish in their roles. “Meeting them in person and seeing how much they thrive reaffirms my purpose,” she said.
Cindie encourages anyone interested to apply as a BCHD volunteer. “You’ll be amazed at the purpose and happiness you can find,” she concluded.
