For Gwen Erickson, serving her community is almost second nature.
Erickson, a senior buyer for Velvac, Inc. in New Berlin, grew up in a family of volunteers. She has devoted her free time to many causes and organizations including a food pantry, a youth drop-in center, a community program planning committee, youth sports and a neighborhood watch.
After moving to Wisconsin from Illinois, Erickson continued to seek volunteer opportunities. She found a perfect fit in Susan G. Komen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer, a disease that affects millions of Americans every year. To date, she has single-handedly raised over $9,000 for the organization. Velvac matches 100% of each donation.
โIn the last four years alone, we have collectively sent over $33,730 to Susan G. Komen. I am humbled by the generosity of those who support me in this cause,โ Erickson said.