Cathy Small - Volunteer of the Year

Throughout her life, Cathy Small has always been motivated to help others. After graduating from Miami University in Oxford, OH with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree, Cathy moved to Indiana to pursue her career in Marketing. Once settled into her first job, Cathy joined the working board for the newly opened Indiana Women in Need, a non-profit working with women who were in active cancer treatment. As a board member, she worked to secure major fundraisers, vendors, and supporters. She was also a major force in the development of the agency's marketing program.


After spending seven years in Indiana, Cathy made the move to Chicago. Shortly after arriving in Chicago she began her search for a new non-profit to work with. In 2008, Cathy found UCAN!

Cathy said, "What stood out to me about UCAN was the organization's recognition for youth who are out of the system who still need help. The various programs that UCAN provides for its clients are unlike any other organization of its kind. UCAN's strong mission and vision led me to really want to volunteer and contribute to the structure of the organization."

Cathy was put in contact with Ellen Acevedo, UCAN's External Affairs Manager. Ellen was able to link Cathy to projects that utilized her knowledge in marketing, social media, and volunteer recruitment. In her time with UCAN, Cathy has worked on projects from designing brochures for events and finding ways to express UCAN's message in marketing materials to recruiting and scheduling other volunteers and working on strategies for recruitment in our new LGBTQ Host Home program.

"It's great working with all the UCAN employees," says Cathy. "You can really feel the passion that all the UCAN employees have for their work - and it motivates me to do better."

Ellen Acevedo feels that, "Cathy has been a great attribute to the mentor and volunteer program. Cathy has innovative marketing ideas and I am confident in asking her advice on how to use technology in order to market our programs to a larger audience. She's great with our young people - especially working side by side with them at events."

Thank you for all that you do for UCAN, Cathy! We are thrilled to honor Cathy Small with UCAN's 2010 Volunteer of the Year award!