Meet Jean Clark, our featured volunteer from Los Angeles!
Get to know our volunteers!
Name: Jean Clark
Branch: Los Angeles
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? Three and a half years – 4 years this April
Are you a Volunteer Guide or Volunteer Musician? Guide
What is your occupation outside of MOC? Senior Vice President – Institutional Investment Management Firm
Do you have any hidden talents? Love to dance – write poetry – take photos – critique and discuss books and movies with friends
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? When I contacted MOC back in 2011 to ask about getting involved in LA, my interest was in finding a volunteer opportunity where I could leave my footprints on the planet in a special way, in addition to being a mother. I’ve loved music and dancing since I was a little girl and I thought MOC was a wonderful combination of volunteerism that incorporated music.
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? It’s very different in that you are actually a part of the experience and the gift that is being given to patients. Other volunteer experiences often rely more on your participating in a task or project that will affect someone’s life, but not necessarily in your actual volunteer activity. The other key difference is that the volunteers are receiving a gift, too – in fact many gifts – each time we are at the hospital. I hadn’t considered how much I would receive by working with MOC.
Has your life changed because of your experience with MOC? Yes – I was hoping to leave footprints on the planet – and instead I have received hundreds of little footprints on my heart. I am filled wiith joy and gratitude whenever I finish a program.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? I’ve done abut 90 programs so picking one is impossible. Some of the experiences I remember most have involved patients characterized as unresponsive, clearly connecting to the music, the lovely families that invite us into their rooms and introduce themselves as if we were guests in their home, the little babies that have been soothed to sleep by the music – and the grace and courage!! so many of these young people exhibit in the face of their trials – huge respect for them.
