Board chair and leadership coach Kim Colburn explains how volunteerism, corporate engagement, and strategic giving expand the impact of The Lighthouse of Houston. He shares his personal journey into service, the psychology of helping, and why leaders must model community involvement. Kim outlines practical ways individuals and companies can combine time, talent, and financial support to strengthen nonprofits and create lasting opportunity for people who are blind or low vision.​

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Key takeaways

1. A personal family loss sparked Kim’s commitment to community service and The Lighthouse relationship.​

2. Volunteerism acts as a force multiplier that helps nonprofits implement programs beyond staff capacity.​

3. Helping others reinforces joy, mental health, and a sense of purpose for volunteers and recipients.​

4. Visible executive support, volunteer policies, and matching gifts deepen corporate impact.​

5. Events such as sponsored camps and charity golf tournaments align business goals with meaningful giving.​

6. Talking about the mission, inviting others to events, and simply showing up are powerful first steps.​

Timestamped overview:

00:00 Kim’s role with The Lighthouse and his coaching firm.​

01:30 How his father’s legacy of service inspired Kim’s search for community impact.​

04:20 First volunteer experience as a sighted guide at a children’s camp and early Lighthouse involvement.​

06:40 – Joining the board, leading mission and strategy work, and guiding the organization through Covid.​

09:40 Why volunteer engagement is vital for serving a large blind and low vision population.​

11:50 The psychology of helping and how giving supports happiness and mental health.​

15:10 Leadership as influence, modeling service, and creating structured volunteer opportunities.​

19:30 Examples of combining corporate giving and volunteering, including BP initiatives and Northwest Petroleum’s golf tournament.​

23:25 Practical steps for individuals and companies to start supporting nonprofits like The Lighthouse.​

26:00 Final reflections on kindness, fulfillment, and the life-changing power of giving back.