National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin

I volunteered with the NKFW for their annual walk that took place in Brookfield, WI on Sept. 20th. It was an amazing event with 850 walkers! The park that was chosen for the event was so beautiful and everyone could enjoy it - even those with diabilities!!! The walk, a mile long, was around a lake on a paved path. There were various water stops, and a box lunch was provided at the end! I really enjoyed meeting many walkers and volunteers and hearing the numerous stories of both survivors and those of family members who had lost someone to kidney disease but were proud of their loved ones strength and perservence through it all. I found the whole event to be such a rewarding experience and I will definitely volunteer in the future.

I got involved with the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin this year to volunteer in the non profit world and give back to the community. I became a part of the Golf committee and had a lot of fun helping to organize the event, gather items for the silent auction, and recruit golfers to participate in the event. I really enjoyed getting to know other members of the committee and the organization. I have learned so much more about the number of people this wonderful organization helps to improve their quality of life! I look forward to continue working with the organization to meet more great people and help raise awareness and gain support in the community!!

I also was an intern (business) during Summer 2009, and I learned so many things about running a small business/nonprofit, designing/maintaining a website, working with/maintaining databases, researching, analyzing data, accounting, creating publications, etc. I really cannot stress how much experience you gain. You get to do something different every day and focus on the things that are important/meaningful to you. (You can really tailor your internship to your interests.) Everything is hands-on, and unlike other internships, you have actual responsibilities. Everyone in the office is great! They are always willing to explain things to you, give you feedback, and listen to YOUR ideas/input. The staff has such great collaborative chemistry, and it’s easy to fit right in with them. You get to know everyone really well. This was such a great experience! I HIGHLY recommend the NKFW! An NKFW internship will be one of the most fulfilling and enriching experiences of your college career.

I worked at the NKFW during Summer 2009 as the public policy intern and absolutley loved it. While you may think that a part-time unpaid internship is not worthwhile, IT IS! It has opened SO many doors for me and you meet people from all over the country from nonprofits, private sectors, and governmental agencies. I even have some good contacts for when I'm looking for a job in a few years. It's super hands-on and you learn a ton because of it. I always had a wide variety of tasks from calling legislative offices to writing and editing newsletters. I even got to sit in on conference calls to Washington! You are constantly involved. The staff is always willing to explain or help with anything and are very appreciative of everything you do. You really feel like you're making a difference. It can get a bit hectic and stressful at times, but it is totally worth the experience. It's a lot of work but tons of fun!