This week’s Ambassador Award goes to Mary Larson from Minneapolis! Mary has a passion for volunteering and helping others. She has been volunteering for Team Ortho Foundation since January, 2009. She helped us tremendously with the preparation for the Get Lucky! 7K. We asked Mary a few questions about why she enjoys volunteering.

TO: What is the most satisfying part of volunteering?
Mary: Volunteering is a way for me to counteract a lot of negativity and selfishness in our world. We all have experienced the result of an unkind word, a nasty look or just negativity in general. It's a ripple effect. On the flip side, what a beautiful thing it is to see the result of a kind word, a pat on the back or the giving of one’s time. It too is a ripple effect. This is why I volunteer: I want to be a part of something positive, something which helps me to look beyond myself, and into the lives of others.

TO: What is it about Team Ortho Foundation that makes you want to volunteer your time to our organization?
Mary: Because it’s a foundation that has something for everybody. Team Ortho is so welcoming and accommodating to a variety of athletes and individuals. As a foundation, they stay true to their focus of promoting an active lifestyle by reaching out to a diverse population - which makes it a no-brainer as to why people so badly want to be involved with their mission.

TO: How do you encourage people to have an active lifestyle?
Mary: My best advice would be to live it yourself and share your enthusiasm! I first started running because of a good friend’s enthusiasm and encouragement; I now try to do the same, especially with the youth. In a world so focused on physical beauty and perfection, I think it’s time to start caring about how we feel and what we are doing to take care of ourselves instead of just how we look. Live it, practice it and others will begin to do the same!

We are sending Mary a Get Lucky! 7K hooded sweatshirt as a thank you for being such a loyal volunteer and a great ambassador for the Team Ortho Foundation.