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Meet Your Neighbor: Meet The Neighbor – Karen Wofford
By Callie Thomas
If it is said that behind every great man is a great woman, it is very possible that behind every great young man is…his mom. While many a teenage boy would be mortified at the thought of being seen at school or, heaven forbid, around their friends with their mom, the tide may be turning and the mom-son duo is becoming more in vogue. Take red carpet events, for instance. Justin Timberlake, the Jonas Brothers, and even Justin Bieber have chosen mom rather than their latest gal pal to escort in front of millions of prying eyes and just as many cameras. 89128 resident Karen Wofford and her sixteen year old son Ryan can also be added to the list of successful mother-son duos in the Las Vegas community. As the VP of Communications for the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) of Las Vegas, Wofford and her son have had invaluable opportunities to make a difference in the community.
Charity and giving back is an important part of the Wofford home. Karen learned at an early age to be charitable and she has instilled that philosophy within her own family. Through her work and relationships formed throughout the community, many opportunities have presented themselves to volunteer their time to support those in need. The list of organizations that Karen and Ryan have assisted over their last year with the Young Men’s Service League is lengthy and includes Joy Prom, Miracle League, Operation School Bell, Atria Senior Living, Toys for Smiles, Street Teens and Clark County Family Services just to name a few. Wofford talks about what it’s like to volunteer with her son, their experiences through the organization and why it’s more important than ever to give back to the community.
It seems that throughout your life, you’ve always made time to volunteer.
“I have always volunteered at my children’s school, whether it’s lunch, fairs, supplemental math curriculum, parties, and I have also volunteered at my church. Last February, I was asked to become a member of YMSL Las Vegas. I liked the idea of philanthropy work, but what made it more appealing is the work would be done with my son. Having had a marketing background with The Howard Hughes Corporation, Summerlin Division and as Director of Marketing for Newland Communities for the downtown renovation under former mayor Oscar Goodman, I was asked to join the board as VP of Communications.”
Are there any standout experiences through YMSL that you could convey?
“One of the events we attended was Joy Prom. It is a prom for 300 physically and/or cognitively disabled adults. My son was paired with Claudia, a forty-six year old woman who had cognitive impairment, to be her escort and I served as chaperone. Claudia was adorable, so full of life. Our purpose was to make her comfortable and ensure she had a wonderful time, but she made us feel comfortable with her big hugs, huge smile and genuineness. Both Ryan and I had an amazing, unforgettable night.”
You and your son have also volunteered for the Miracle League?
“I was in the cheering section with the moms and Ryan was the helper to a seven-year-old Down syndrome boy. He took him to bat at home plate then started to pitch to him. He pitched more than twenty balls, but finally the young boy got a hit. All the moms were clapping and cheering him on and he was thrilled to be receiving recognition for his accomplishment. After the game, his mother came up to Ryan and sincerely thanked him for being so kind and caring to her son.”
What would you say is your most meaningful accomplishment?
“My two sons, Justin and Ryan, with my husband Mike.”
How does it make you feel to give back?
“Every time I volunteer, it makes me a more compassionate person. There is so much need in our community, and I am in awe of the number of charitable people that live in Southern Nevada.”
