Volunteer Spotlight: Dani Logan
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re happy to share stories and insights from some of our volunteers across the country. Dani Logan serves on our Event Committee in Nashville. She reached out about volunteering several years ago, wanting to get involved with nonprofit work, and has been an asset in supporting our blood drive campaign, procuring auction items, and volunteering in-person at our special events.
Dani with our 2024 Scott Hamilton & Friends Volunteers
What inspired you to start volunteering with CARES? Is there a personal connection to cancer that makes our mission especially meaningful for you?
I wanted to volunteer with a Foundation with a mission that resonated with my values, and the CARES Foundation “About” page was exactly that! It’s a desire to be a part of something that genuinely supports people during one of the hardest chapters of their lives; cancer touches so many lives, and mine is no exception. I lost my Mom in 2023 to a brain tumor, which I was not ready for (knowing she had survived breast cancer several years prior was naïve on my part, thinking she was invincible). She was not just my Mom but also a mentor, best friend, and my safe person. Recalling the times she was treated for breast cancer and later surgery for a brain tumor is where I wonder, could her treatments have been handled differently?
Can you share a moment or experience from your time with CARES that stands out?
Definitely my first volunteer event - being there to witness and celebrate Scott Hamilton's 40th Olympic Gold Medal anniversary at the 8th Annual Scott Hamilton & Friends! I loved coming in unassigned to tasks and moving around as needed. I was in awe of the organization, the dedication of the donors, and the speed and energy of the live auction. That kind of energy can be addicting; a natural high. But mostly hearing others share their personal journeys, giving us all a powerful reminder that progress is being made every day.
Has your involvement with the foundation changed how you look at cancer research? What does it feel like knowing you’re helping power life-saving breakthroughs?
Being involved with the Foundation has educated me on how much dedication, creativity, and collaboration goes into cancer research. It’s no longer something abstract—I’ve seen the people and the ideas behind the work and the lives touched by every discovery. Knowing my small part of support is helping power breakthroughs that could give someone more time with their family or a second chance at life is incredibly humbling.
What would you tell someone who’s thinking about volunteering with CARES?
Volunteering with CARES Foundation is an experience that gives back just as much as you put in. It’s also a way to honor people you’ve loved and lost, or those you’ve stood beside as they go through their battle and helped create moments of comfort and connection when they are most needed. You’re not just filling in or running a task, you are becoming part of a community that improves lives. If you’re looking for a place where your time truly matters and can walk away feeling like you made someone’s day a little brighter, CARES Foundation is worth saying “Yes, I have the time to volunteer.”