09 Oct 2024

Volunteering to Make a Difference: Karol Kapustka

One of HudsonAlpha’s first volunteers, Karol Kapustka moves HudsonAlpha’s mission forward through her role in the Impactors volunteer group

In 2008, Karol Kapustka’s world shifted when she retired from her decades-long career as a registered nurse. After leaving her busy and meaningful professional life, she looked for ways to make just as much of an impact in the community through volunteerism.

That same year, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology opened its doors, aiming to bring real-world solutions to the medical and healthcare worlds through genomics research. Karol was entranced from the moment she heard about the Institute.

“I have a passion for genealogy and genetics, and that’s what drew me to HudsonAlpha to volunteer in 2009,” says Karol. “I volunteered at the very first Tie The Ribbons luncheon that year, and have been involved with many types of programs and events at HudsonAlpha ever since.”

Today, HudsonAlpha has made significant advancements in improving diagnosis and treatment for many illnesses, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. The Institute has also made big strides in the world of plant science, using genomics to address global food insecurity, improve economically important crops, and lead us towards a more sustainable future.

As a tireless volunteer, regular attendee of HudsonAlpha’s public education events, and a generous donor, Karol has been there through all stages of HudsonAlpha’s growth. Today, Karol is a member of the HudsonAlpha Impactors, a volunteer group that helps with HudsonAlpha’s public events and educational programs.

Read on to learn why Karol has supported HudsonAlpha all these years, what her role as a volunteer means to her, and why she’s excited about HudsonAlpha’s future.

HudsonAlpha Foundation: What’s kept you involved with HudsonAlpha all these years?

Karol Kapustka: Healthcare is my passion. What got me about HudsonAlpha is learning more about DNA and its many applications in healthcare that can help improve patients’ lives. I just love the work that HudsonAlpha does and believe it carries great value.

HAF: Why are HudsonAlpha’s events important to you?

KK: I appreciate HudsonAlpha’s community involvement and how they offer these resources for free to the community. What makes these events important to me is the knowledge you gain from them you don’t get anywhere else, and how that information helps you understand things about health you wouldn’t have known otherwise. As a former healthcare worker, that means a lot. More people should know this information is available to them!

HAF: You also support HudsonAlpha through philanthropic donations. What is it that inspired you to become a donor?

KK: I wanted to support more scientific research projects that are making a difference. HudsonAlpha is a wonderful organization to be a part of, and I feel like donating helps me make a difference in addition to volunteering. It goes hand-in-hand.

HAF: In your opinion, what value does the Institute bring to our community, and why should others support it?

KK: HudsonAlpha brings unique aspects to our community because of the tie between scientific research on the nonprofit side with the associate companies on campus who can deliver results in a quicker way. I love the concept of the two together and how open HudsonAlpha is with discoveries.

As a nonprofit organization, HudsonAlpha relies on philanthropic support to fuel genomics research and STEM education and is grateful for the volunteers who help advance these mission areas.

If you’re interested in learning how you can support HudsonAlpha as a volunteer or as a donor, please contact Elizabeth Herrin, Senior Director of Advancement, at eherrin@hudsonalpha.org or 256.327.0442.