Lessons of giving back inspire Kelly McQueen's gift to NMDP

Often, major financial gifts to NMDP are inspired by a direct emotional connection. The generous contributor might be a blood stem cell transplant recipient, patient family member or caregiver. But for Kelly McQueen, the motivation for her recent gift came from someplace else—her upbringing.

From an early age, Kelly's parents instilled in her the importance of giving back. Kelly's mom was involved with the PTA and regularly volunteered at Kelly's schools. And Kelly's dad helped out with fundraising events for school and sports teams. Her parents didn't mind that sports left little time for a high school job as long as Kelly dedicated time each week to volunteering—and she did, four to five hours a week at Fairview Hospital in Minnesota, later joining her mom and sister in supporting the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®. "Both of my grandmothers had breast cancer, so participating in the Race for the Cure was a great way for our family to come together to support our grandparents and other families impacted by cancer," shared Kelly.

Starting her career in financial services, in 2005 Kelly was introduced to one of her first clients, NMDP. Soon after, she began volunteering for the NMDP Walk+Run event in Minneapolis and went on to chair the NMDP Leadership Council and volunteer on the Board of Ambassadors. "The fact that NMDP saves lives is so inspiring to me," said Kelly. "Not many organizations can say that. This was the biggest reason I started supporting NMDP as a volunteer."

Over the years, Kelly contributed to various NMDP fundraising appeals. And as her career has grown, so have her financial gifts—including her most recent gift in March 2019. Kelly hopes people understand they can make a similar impact—for NMDP or other organizations they're passionate about. "With my background in finance, and current role as a corporate banking relationship manager at PNC Bank, my approach to giving is that if you plan appropriately and make a long-term commitment, it takes the fear out of the decision," she shared. "Everyone's ability or comfort level is different, but for me, this approach seemed to work best."

For other young professionals looking to establish a plan for philanthropy, Kelly offered this advice: "Find a cause or organization you're passionate about—an organization you want to tell the world about. Even starting small can have a big impact. Spend a little time volunteering, then find a way to grow with the organization. Think about what unique skills or knowledge you can offer above and beyond writing a check."

To learn more about how you can make a meaningful impact, and support patients in need, please contact Amy Bigot at (763) 406-8725 | Toll Free: (800) 507-54271 or amy.bigot@nmdp.org.