‘Doing more’ is a personal necessity

April 8, 2014

Tracy Byrnes, senior manager of innovation at Athleta, shares her “do more” story about why she volunteers in her community.

It is something that I truly need in my life and is the most rewarding thing I do.

I started volunteering in high school and have been involved with many different organizations throughout my life. About 10 years ago, I heard a presentation from the founder of Girls on the Run, an organization dedicated to helping girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.

I looked around the room during that presentation, and there was not a dry eye in the house. I was inspired to get involved.

In my years of volunteering with Girls on the Run, I’ve been able to help so many young girls navigate the challenges they face growing up. When they walk or run that 5K, you see them believe in themselves and that they can achieve anything. There is no greater reward than that.

But these girls are not the only ones transforming. Every time I volunteer I learn more about myself, am challenged personally to grow, and am exposed to something I would not face in my daily life.

Once you start volunteering, you are going to be so surprised at what you get out of it. Sometimes I am really busy and think I don’t have time. But the second I start coaching the girls, stress melts away and I escape my world. There’s always time, you just have to make it a priority.

“Doing more” is absolutely a priority for Athleta and Gap Inc. Together, we can get more people volunteer and give their time. To me, a company that shares my values is a company I want to be aligned with personally.