When faced with a challenge, you can step up to the plate or sit on the sidelines and watch. Kim Clum, VP of Credit, is based out of GreenStone’s Grand Rapids office, and her husband Josh chose the former, and have stepped up to the plate in many ways for their daughters’ little league program.
During the girls’ first year in the Lakewood Little League program, there was a lack in volunteers to help. Josh decided to help and become a coach, while Kim volunteered to keep score, maintain the fields, and organize the team. Quickly they learned the impact that it would have on the kids.
“We had no clue what we were doing when Josh started coaching 8U. I remember one mom at the first practice saying, “Oh boy, this is going to be a long season. That year we were the champions for 8U softball in our community league program,” Kim shared with a smile. “From then on, we could not imagine not helping and coaching with the program. It is so satisfying to see how kids can grow with encouragement. From that moment we wanted to do more, to stay involved. Josh joined the board, and I knew by him doing that, I was in too!”
Each year Kim has helped with fundraisers for the program, and has helped get local businesses involved. This has allowed for families of all backgrounds to have the opportunity to play this American sport. The sponsorships not only provide player scholarships, but help cover the cost of field maintenance and equipment that the teams and umpires needed for each game.
This year Kim helped coordinate jerseys and pictures for the 28 teams in the program! She also continues to assist her husband on the field, by keeping score and help encouraging the kids.
When asked why helping in the community is so important to her, Kim says, “We have a good community; the people and families make it what it is. I believe the more that we do to help our community and the people in it, it will get even better than it is today. I want our younger generations to see that the littlest things can make a difference and it doesn’t matter your age when making those differences. They say it takes a village to raise a kid, and I agree. I have the people in this town to thank for the person I am today, and for who my kids are becoming!”
One of GreenStone's CoreFour Values is Getting Involved and we're proud of employees like Kim who step up to the plate to support the communities we serve through a variety of avenues, including getting involved in programs like this. Learn more about our community outreach and engagement efforts by visiting Open Fields Blog | GreenStone FCS.
