This week we profile one of our many talented and fabulous volunteers, Karen Phinney! Karen has volunteered with the Kimmel Center for many years in various capacities including providing one of our FREE guided tours. Where are you from? I was born in Philadelphia and I have lived in the greater Philadelphia area all my life. As a late bloomer I graduated from LaSalle University at the age of 36. Currently, I live in lower Northeast Philadelphia. I cannot imagine ever living far from the major metro area. There is so much to do and see in this city, culturally.. and can’t forget the sports teams! What is your occupational background? I work in the accounting department at Bryner Chevrolet in Jenkintown, PA. I have worked in the automotive business my whole adult life. What volunteer activities do you participate in? Besides being a tour guide for the Kimmel Center, I am a membership volunteer for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Also, I am a volunteer for Laurel Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park. How long have you been Volunteering at the Kimmel Center? I volunteered the 1st day the Kimmel Center opened its doors to the general public in December 2001. I remember how nervous I was at the start of the day that I was going to forget all the information we learned in our training. There were so many people that came through the doors that day! Of course the most important information I needed to know was where the bathroom was. How did you learn about volunteer opportunities at the Kimmel Center? I learned about the volunteer opportunity at the Kimmel Center from fellow volunteer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His name was Marvin Goldberg, and he was Mr. Volunteer of Philadelphia. When Marvin passed away I think the whole city must have felt the void. What is one of your favorite Kimmel Center experiences? How can I pick just one? Let’s see this past April’s street fair watching people enjoy sitting on the grass on Broad Street like it had been there all their entire life. The first time I got to watch the Mummers New Year’s Day in the warmth of the Kimmel Center. Every Philadanco’s performance I have seen. Peter Nero’s & the Pops Favorites night! The performance of “Odd Couple” where Gerard Butler was in the audience sitting near me. And the first time that I was able to say on tour at the Roof Top Garden pointing out Citizens Bank Baseball Park, that it was home to the World Series Champs Philadelphia Phillies. It would be easier to ask if I had a bad experience at the Kimmel! Answer: no. What do you like most about volunteering? I just enjoy talking to people. I am amazed when I am on tour and I meet a local person who hasn’t been to a performance at the Kimmel center. Then I take on the challenge of convincing that person that they must come see a live performance at the Kimmel Center. Also I like working the big events at the Kimmel Center such as Summer Soltice, New Year’s Day, and this year Easter Egg Hunt and the PIFA street fair, the bigger the crowd the happier I am.

This week we profile one of our many talented and fabulous volunteers, Karen Phinney! Karen has volunteered with the Kimmel Center for many years in various capacities including providing one of our FREE guided tours.

Where are you from? I was born in Philadelphia and I have lived in the greater Philadelphia area all my life. As a late bloomer I graduated from LaSalle University at the age of 36. Currently, I live in lower Northeast Philadelphia. I cannot imagine ever living far from the major metro area. There is so much to do and see in this city, culturally.. and can’t forget the sports teams!

What is your occupational background? I work in the accounting department at Bryner Chevrolet in Jenkintown, PA. I have worked in the automotive business my whole adult life.

What volunteer activities do you participate in? Besides being a tour guide for the Kimmel Center, I am a membership volunteer for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Also, I am a volunteer for Laurel Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park.

How long have you been Volunteering at the Kimmel Center? I volunteered the 1st day the Kimmel Center opened its doors to the general public in December 2001. I remember how nervous I was at the start of the day that I was going to forget all the information we learned in our training. There were so many people that came through the doors that day! Of course the most important information I needed to know was where the bathroom was.

How did you learn about volunteer opportunities at the Kimmel Center? I learned about the volunteer opportunity at the Kimmel Center from fellow volunteer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His name was Marvin Goldberg, and he was Mr. Volunteer of Philadelphia. When Marvin passed away I think the whole city must have felt the void.

What is one of your favorite Kimmel Center experiences? How can I pick just one? Let’s see this past April’s street fair watching people enjoy sitting on the grass on Broad Street like it had been there all their entire life. The first time I got to watch the Mummers New Year’s Day in the warmth of the Kimmel Center. Every Philadanco’s performance I have seen. Peter Nero’s & the Pops Favorites night! The performance of “Odd Couple” where Gerard Butler was in the audience sitting near me. And the first time that I was able to say on tour at the Roof Top Garden pointing out Citizens Bank Baseball Park, that it was home to the World Series Champs Philadelphia Phillies. It would be easier to ask if I had a bad experience at the Kimmel! Answer: no.

What do you like most about volunteering? I just enjoy talking to people. I am amazed when I am on tour and I meet a local person who hasn’t been to a performance at the Kimmel center. Then I take on the challenge of convincing that person that they must come see a live performance at the Kimmel Center. Also I like working the big events at the Kimmel Center such as Summer Soltice, New Year’s Day, and this year Easter Egg Hunt and the PIFA street fair, the bigger the crowd the happier I am.