VHF is proud to spotlight Marquita Reinhardt as our first nominee for VHF Volunteer of the Year in 2020. Marquita has been a constituent of VHF since her son Matthew, now 12, was diagnosed with severe hemophilia A (factor 8 deficiency) with an inhibitor. Marquita has found a passion in giving back to VHF, especially through the Unite Walk – Richmond as a fundraiser and committee member. Marquita says, “I volunteer with VHF, because it is one way in which I can give back to my community. The VHF and its participants are my community. It is a community of blood brothers and blood sisters.”
The 2019 Unite Walk was her walk team’s best year ever, raising $3,844 for the chapter along with Team Captain Krista Davidson. Marquita was instrumental in that success, holding a hugely successful fundraising walk through Matthew’s school, a portion of the proceeds going to the Unite Walk, and another portion staying with the school to work towards building an elevator for Matthew and others who need special accommodations. Marquita was invited and attended the 2019 National Hemophilia Foundation Unite Walk Rally as a volunteer for VHF, traveling to San Antonio with Development Director Megan Schowengerdt and learning best practices from other chapters from all over the country who are running Unite Walk programs. Volunteering is important to Marquita because: “The Virginia Hemophilia Foundation has helped to give me a voice as a volunteer, advocate and most importantly a mother. I find it extremely important to give back and to help others the way the chapter has stepped in and helped me and my family.”
We are grateful for you Marquita, and congratulate you on this recognition.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer with the chapter, please contact Megan Schowengerdt at megan@vahemophilia.org.
