Katie Kimble, Volunteer of the Year

Katie Kimble, 2023 Volunteer of the Year, has brought a vivacious passionate spirit to the YC family for almost 15 years. She has always had very strong leadership and fundraising skills and a huge heart for the YC mission.

“YC has always been the example of genuine leadership when it comes to providing unique, engaging, fun, and in many cases, otherwise unattainable opportunities for kids and teen athletes managing different physical challenges,” Katie said. “The YC commitment to participants and volunteers is realized in the endless smiles, and friendships.”

Katie began volunteering in 2009 when her brother Mickey was a participant. She was won over by his excitement when the van pulled up and the huge grin on his face when he came home. Not only was Katie a volunteer, she also served in a leadership position on the Volunteer Committee when she was a teen. Currently, Katie serves as the Events Chair of the Young Professionals for Youth Challenge (YP4YC), where she helps plan fundraisers such as Battle of the Bartenders and Brats, Beer and Brackets with creativity and dedication. She was on the award-winning Battle of the Bartenders YP4YC team two years in a row!

Katie is strongly dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, not only at YC but also professionally as Associate Director, Affinity Chapters at Case Western Reserve University, where she plans and hosts events for various minority groups. She also is a small business owner and has donated her ByKatieK designer jewelry to YC fundraisers.

Thank you, Katie, for the major impact you’ve made on the Youth Challenge community!