Celebrating 40 Years of Making a Difference: Thank You, Kim Paradis!
This Make a Difference Day, we’re celebrating someone who has been doing just that for four decades — making a difference in the lives of Special Olympics New Hampshire athletes year after year.
Meet Kim Paradis, a long-time volunteer whose kindness, reliability, and heart have been woven into SONH’s story for the past 40 years. From preparing lunches to supporting projects and cheering on athletes at competitions, Kim’s impact is everywhere — and her passion shines through in everything she does.
When asked what keeps her coming back, Kim shared,
“I couldn’t narrow it down to a favorite event! It’s so fun serving food and getting to see athletes one-on-one and interact more. I really did enjoy Olympic Town at the State Summer Games — getting to sit with athletes and do crafts and get to know each other. Anytime when you get to have that one-on-one connection, that’s really the best.”
Those personal moments — the laughter, conversations, and quiet connections — are what Kim treasures most. She fondly recalls friendships built over the years, including with athlete Tori Gingras, who she gets to take to the Penguin Plunge each year (and always makes her special sandwich — no tomatoes!).
Beyond events and friendships, Kim’s volunteer spirit shines in her creativity and leadership behind the scenes. One of her proudest accomplishments was helping to launch the very first DIY Pails for the Penguin Plunge — a project that quickly became a favorite for participants statewide.
“That was a big undertaking, but the outcome was great! It was a fun kind of crazy. I felt so accomplished after, knowing how much work we put into it and the huge amounts of products we stuffed into the buckets — all for an excellent cause.”
Kim’s journey with SONH began 40 years ago with a simple “sign me up.”
“I was at work and heard of coworkers who were volunteering at the long jump. I wanted to try it and decided to bring my son along — he was 10 years old and would bring the athletes down to retrieve their medals. Once that started, I moved onto helping with food, making lunches for athletes and volunteers. Before I knew it, 40 years went by — and I’ve loved getting to be a part of SONH.”
As we celebrate Make a Difference Day, we can’t think of anyone who embodies that spirit more than Kim. Her compassion, dedication, and joy have made a lasting impact on generations of athletes, families, and volunteers.
From everyone at Special Olympics New Hampshire — thank you, Kim, for 40 years of heart, hard work, and happiness. You make a difference every single day. 💙❤️
