April is Volunteer Appreciation Month so we decided to dedicate each Wednesday to celebrating our wonderful volunteers (Friends of the CCA) to show how much we value them. This week, we are celebrating Colleen Grady - a long time volunteer of the center who always shows up with a bright smile and a great attitude. We asked Colleen why she volunteers and what she loves the most about it:

I have had the honor & pleasure of being one of the many wonderful volunteers @ the Chandler Center for the Performing Arts. After a few years now, I can honestly say it is and continues to be one of the highlights of my retirement years! 

My desire to be involved in my community and have the opportunity to interact with diverse members of that community has been a hallmark of my personal & professional life.  Giving time & energy to activities one enjoys is in my opinion, the reason you look forward to retiring!  I have always had a soft spot for the arts in all it's forms, and so it was a no brainer for me to become involved as a FRIEND of CCA! The staff is caring and enthusiastic and my co-volunteers and I appreciate them and know for a fact they appreciate us! We truly work well together.

For the past year and a half I've served on the Steering Committee as a representative & spokesperson for all of us Friends,  My term ends next month and I will miss being a part of the committee.  Attending the foundation board meetings has been such a good experience as the committee gets to hear some of the many wonderful things happening in the arts in Chandler.  We, the committee, are on the front lines of meeting and getting to know board members who help to keep the center alive and running smoothly.  We report to the board about present and upcoming shows and give them an account of new volunteers. It has been a most pleasurable experience and I wish all the best to those continuing on. To finish up I can only say,  retired or not, I highly recommend becoming a "FRIEND" of the Chandler Center for the Performing Arts! 

Sincerely,  

Colleen Grady