Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Katz

Volunteers make the work the Living Beyond Breast Cancer staff does every day possible. From in-office support to event staffing and peer helpline calls, people like you help us strive toward our vision of a world where no one with breast cancer feels uninformed or alone.

To celebrate the people who devote so much of their time to LBBC’s programs and resources we’ve started Volunteer Spotlight, a series to share more about who they are and why they do what they do.

Linda Katz, of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania, volunteers her time to do a variety of tasks in the Living Beyond Breast Cancer office in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering in your community?

I think it’s important to give back. When I was working as associate director of Drexel University’s Health Sciences Libraries, I didn’t have much time to, so I’m happy to have found LBBC and to have been volunteering there for about 5 years. I go into LBBC’s office weekly. I enjoy using my medical librarian skills at LBBC, and I am especially happy to have gotten to know so many incredible LBBC staff members who always make me feel right at home and appreciated.

What is the most unique volunteer activity you’ve ever done?

LBBC has a HUGE database of individuals who have been involved with LBBC – attending programs, receiving assistance, requesting information, etc. I recently worked on a database defining all of the “suffixes” that people in the LBBC database use after their names, e.g. LCMT (Licensed Clinical Massage Therapist), CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) and DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice). I never knew that there were so many of these certifications!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I grew up in New York City. One of the hardest things I ever did was to move from one end of the New Jersey Turnpike to the other, to the Philadelphia suburbs. I still feel like a New Yorker, but I have learned to love the Philadelphia area.

When you’re not volunteering, what are people likely to find you doing?

I am loving retirement! In addition to my stints at LBBC, I also spend hours at the gym doing strength, balance and aerobic exercises. I recently learned how to play mahjongg, and find it to be interesting and fun – and I’ve met many wonderful people with whom I play. I am also on the board of directors of the Lower Merion Library System. But my favorite activity is spending time with my amazing and beautiful granddaughters!

Thank you to Linda and all of our volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for LBBC, visit our page on volunteering.