Volunteer Spotlight: Didi Vore

April is National Volunteer Month, so we are highlighting the work of our incredible volunteers.

Name: Diane “Didi” Vore

County: Orange County

Volunteer Roles and Experience:  I’ve volunteered with Special Olympics Florida since 2016, but I’ve been volunteering for the Special Olympics mission since 1980. I was a volunteer tennis coach in Connecticut before moving to Florida. Here, I’ve worked in the state office, volunteered at different competitions and, more recently, served as a mentor for the We Build program with Orlando Health. In that partnership, Special Olympics Florida athletes do apprenticeships with Orlando Health, with an eye toward being brought on as an employee. I’ve been a mentor for three athletes, and it’s been incredible. I provide emotional support and generally help them learn how to navigate the workplace.

Why I Volunteer:  I love volunteering. It’s incredibly rewarding, and the joy you get from being with our athletes is amazing. I am so proud of what they achieve, whether in sports or on the job. I tell everyone who’s thinking about becoming a volunteer the same thing: “Do it! Do it one time, and once you’re there, around the athletes, you’ll want to come back again and again.”