Volunteer Spotlight: Mark Preston

This quarter we’re excited to feature Mark Preston as our featured volunteer. Mark has a special gift when it comes to graphic design work and we’re lucky enough to have had him donate his time and talent to the rescue for the last several years. While Mark does a lot of design work for us, the biggest project of the year is putting together our annual calendar. From start to finish he makes sure every photo, every story, every detail is perfectly placed! Thank you Mark!

How long have you been a volunteer with RAGofAZ?

A little over 5 years.

What volunteer positions have you held and what role(s) are you currently in?

I started out working on the annual Links of Gold golf tournament which was our biggest fund raising event at the time. Over the years, I’ve become more active doing graphic design work for RAGofAZ.

In what part of AZ do you reside? 

Originally from Wisconsin, I’ve lived in Scottsdale for the past 32 years.

Tell us a little bit about your family, including any current pets.

I live with my wife of 37 years, my 23 year old daughter and a 7 year old RAGofAZ rescue Golden named “J.”

Tell us a little bit about any past/current rescued Goldens (from us or otherwise).

J is our current rescue, and is the third Golden we have been blessed to provide a forever home for through RAGofAZ. We also rescued a Golden while we lived in Kansas who was lost on the city streets of Wichita. We scooped the four month old puppy up out of the street so she wouldn’t get hit, and worked diligently to find her owner to no avail. Because she was a lost little girl wandering in Kansas we named her Dorothy … and she was with us for the next 17 years. While we miss Dorothy and Cassie & Bart, our RAGofAZ rescues, we treasured our time with them and are grateful every day for the comic relief and genuine love that “JJ” shares with us these days’

Tell us a bit about why you wanted to volunteer with us.

From our first rescue (Cassie) with RAGofAZ, it became clear that it was a very special organization. The dedication, enthusiasm and genuine love exhibited by every volunteer we came into contact with inspired me to want to do my fair share …. All For the Love of a Golden.

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had so far as a volunteer with us?

Working with the GREAT volunteers, and seeing the joy that our rescues bring to people throughout the Valley at our annual “Bark In The Park” get-togethers.

What advice would you give to someone who hasn’t volunteered with us before but may be thinking about it?

Do it!!! Like the Goldens themselves, volunteering gives back far more than it takes.