Megan Hakopian is a high school student who loves to volunteer. When she discovered Children’s Foundation of America on VolunteerMatch, she searched our organization online to learn more. “I saw that it aligned with my interests and values,” she said. “So I signed up right away!”

Her first and favorite volunteer memory with the Foundation was helping at our Claremont Earth Day booth. “I didn’t know anyone and Marie welcomed me with such a warm heart,” she said. “I felt right at home.” For her first time volunteering with us, Megan did an excellent job engaging with booth visitors and collecting donations with our spin wheel game.

Since then, Megan has volunteered at our CREAM Ontario fundraiser, helped cut event flyers at our office, inventoried in our warehouse and assembled spring goodie baskets.

She loves that volunteering allows people to develop new skills, especially with nonprofit charities like CFA. “Unlike other organizations, charitable organizations are happy to give positions to passionate, though inexperienced individuals,” she said. “Individuals who desire to help others and benefit the community.”

Outside of volunteering with CFA, Megan is active in her church, is part of Model United Nations, Girl Scouts, fencing, Claremont Canopy and occasionally plays the piano. “I don’t volunteer for the glory or the awards,” Megan said, “but because I love seeing others smile. It makes me really appreciate what I have and warms my heart.”

Megan highly encourages others to volunteer with CFA and even got her mom involved in the organization. Her advice for potential CFA volunteers and donors: “Pour your whole heart into it,” she said. “This is such an amazing organization and each time I volunteer I can only imagine how many children are impacted by one small act.”

The Children’s Foundation of America relies on volunteers like Megan to Be the Difference in the lives of children in need. Click here to learn more about how you can get involved too!

Marie Maghuyop, Communications & Volunteer Relations Specialist
Marie creates content for social media, writes blogs and coordinates volunteer opportunities and events. She enjoys connecting with volunteers of diverse backgrounds and getting to know their unique stories. She has earned two associate’s degrees from San Bernardino Valley College and a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Fullerton. In her free time, Marie loves going to Disneyland, writing, playing ukulele and board games, and dancing.