Volunteering is Way of Life for Carrollwood Couple

They don’t do it for the accolades or any special recognition. Often they are the smiling couple behind-the-scenes, organizing or sponsoring an event. 

Realtors Dick and Karla Nielsen recently sponsored Carrollwood’s Relay for Life and are involved in volunteering in the community through several well-known organizations.

Patch met with the couple after their Kiwanis meeting at Brunchies to discuss why they do what they do. 

Patch: What are some of the organizations that you volunteer?

Dick: Kiwanis. They are international, but our primary focus is on kids locally.

We also spent some time with Bob Silah and Operation Helping Hand.

Karla: We work with Hope Children’s Home.

Dick: I’ve been a member of the Sports Club of Tampa Bay for five years. For a number of years, we’ve raised funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs, but we also make money available for amateur teams winning championships or needing equipment, that sort of thing.

Karla: It’s not a charity experience, but we’ve been deeply involved in Carrollwood Area Business Association (CABA) since 1998. Dick is past president and I’ve been a board director.

CABA reaches out into the community in a variety of ways, so we participate in many, many of things that they do. It’s a great organization. That’s where our friends are.

Patch: You just finished sponsoring Relay for Life Carrollwood. How did you get involved?

Karla: We were invited to join to become part of the executive team and we said yes.

Patch: Bigger question – why?

Dick: The Relay for Life is a lot of work, but when you get all through with it, meet the folks who are being taken care of, the survivors – We heard some touching, heart-warming stories.

Karla: We did the survivor’s tent this year. I get the most thrill out being with the survivor tent and the caregivers. That really brings it home as to why you are really there.

Dick: The survivors have good attitudes and they’ve been through some tough stuff.  They are always grateful, thankful and encourage each other.

The Relay for Life has a number of kids – high schools and churches – and they are wonderful kids.

Karla: It really restores your hope.

We get a great deal of pleasure out of doing this with our friends. They join the committees. We’re all part of it and the synergy is what thrills me the most, working with other people who are headed in the right direction doing good things.

Dick: Yes, we do it with our friends and we’ve also made some great friends. It’s a group effort. There aren’t any individual heroes.

Patch: What is your favorite part of volunteering?

Dick: It’s wonderful to be with like-minded people.  You have a bunch of people who like what they are doing and it rubs off. You take it to the next place.