Volunteer Spotlight: Paden Brown
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re happy to share stories and insights from some of our volunteers across the country. Paden Brown is a communications professional and former CARES Academic Intern. Paden joined CARES in the summer of 2017 to gain nonprofit experience while pursuing her degree in communications. Since completing her internship and her degree, Paden has continued to serve on CARES’ Event Committee, helping with our Nashville-based events and engaging her family and network to join, too.
Paden and her parents with Scott Hamilton
What inspired you to volunteer with CARES? Do you have a personal connection to cancer that makes CARES meaningful to you?
I heard about CARES from a Nashville-area college friend who had been impacted by the generosity, research, and impact of the Foundation. I had been to Nashville maybe twice, knew nothing about the Foundation or even who Scott Hamilton was (worry not, my mom quickly informed me,) and I took a chance to reach out and see if they needed a communications and marketing intern! They did. I moved to Nashville for the summer, volunteered at an event THAT NIGHT, and had the best summer learning about the mission of CARES and working to share that with as many people as possible! I went back to school in Arkansas after the summer and always had hopes of being able to be involved at some point down the road. I moved to Nashville in 2019, volunteered at an event THAT NIGHT, and haven't looked back since.
I was drawn to CARES and the work CARES does because I lost my dad to colon cancer when I was 8 years old. I have to use two hands to count the number of family members who have had some form of cancer, and if I add friends to that list, I might have to start using my toes. Cancer sucks. CARES gives hope!
Can you share a memorable experience, event, or moment from your time volunteering?
The most memorable experience for me was when I volunteered to collect social media content during the day of the Scott Hamilton & Friends show. I spent the day at Birdgestone Arena watching the dress rehearsal with the skaters and the bands. Never in my life would I have dreamed that I would record short testimonial clips of Kenny Loggins, John Elefante, Jonathan Cain... and get to make my mom jealous again! As if getting to volunteer for Scott wasn't enough.
Paden at her first CARES event in 2017
On a more serious note, the most meaningful moments of being involved with CARES are the times I get to meet people who have overcome cancer and show up to give back to everyone else who is affected. Heroes!!!
How has being involved with our foundation changed your perspective on cancer research? How do you feel knowing you’re supporting life-saving research?
I never understood what went into funding cancer research and what it takes to make sure you steward funding to the right research with meaningful breakthroughs. I have been so impressed by the intentionality, discernment, and integrity that CARES displays when choosing what grants, research, programs, etc. to fund. The impact is REAL and MEANINGFUL, and the breakthroughs are happening! I do think I even remember hearing that one research grant that CARES funded ended up kind of dead-ending for the specific cancer they were trying to treat, but the findings are being used in Alzheimer's research and research for other diseases with no current cures.
What would you say to someone considering volunteering with CARES?
If you’re invited you to do something, say yes. Jump right in. You won't find a better group of people to volunteer with, a better Foundation team to volunteer with, or even a better Founder to volunteer with - yes, I said with, since Scott may just be the volunteer with the MOST hours. We mean business when it comes to fighting cancer, but we also have a ton of fun doing it. I've made friends for life just because I said yes to one event that led to 9 years of volunteering with no end in sight!
“A photo someone took of me line dancing next to Olympian Mariah Bell and one person away from Olympic Champion Nathan Chen”