"I just do what I do," states Risa Booze. Well, this includes volunteering for Parenting Place since the past five years, her work with the Bright Beginnings program for nine years, and lending her splendid voice and services to the Boulder Chorale. And that's not all. Previously a nurse midwife she has been a Pilates instructor for eight years now.

Booze's experience with women and children as a nurse midwife drew her to Parenting Place. This non- profit offers support and education to parents with the goals of "relieving isolation and reducing the stress of parenting." She calls this organization "a treasure, as it provides a physical space for parents to come together."

As a volunteer for Bright Beginnings, one of the programs which works jointly with Parenting Place, Booze said that she "assists families understand normal child development and shares their resources with the community." She also ensures that her visits are comprehensive by exploiting her previous expertise as a nurse midwife to answer questions which sometimes go beyond the requirement of a Bright Beginnings visit. And one of the most frequent questions that parents ask Booze is "How do I make my child sleep better?"

At Parenting Place Booze helps maintain the database, recording all of the family visits and the new parents that come in for support, all information necessary for grant writing. She also solicits auction items and assists at fundraising events. When acknowledged by Jessica Dale, Volunteer Coordinator of Parenting Place, about her consistent presence during many administrative changes and "guiding the new staff" she said, "as a person volunteering there for so long she had the information as to how things were done in the past and that helped them."

And as Dale remarks, "I am confident that when her story is run, most of Boulder County will light up with a memory of her cutting watermelon for their family at our 4th of July Children's parade, visiting their home after the birth of their child and the many other ways she has found to touch people during her 20 years in Boulder County."

For information about volunteering with Parenting Place or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.