“To those whom much is given, much is expected.”

These words, passed on to Carolynn Stavenger from her father, are the driving force behind her work as a CHS board member and Children’s Inn volunteer. That work has been going on for 19 years.

Not only did her father, Dr. Loren Amundson, pass on those words of wisdom, but his work with CHS paved the way for Carolynn’s.

While attending medical school in Vermillion, SD, Loren and his fraternity paid for a busload of CHS kids to travel the 60 miles from Sioux Falls to Vermillion and receive Christmas gifts. Loren was Santa.

And when CHS was an orphanage, as a child Carolynn and her family, including her father, her mother Mavis, and brother Mark, opened their home on holidays to two or three CHS children for the day. The hardest part for Carolynn was taking the kids back to CHS. Since she was in third grade, CHS was “our place.”

Fast forward to 2002 when Carolynn and her husband Jim moved back to Sioux Falls from Denver. Carolynn was friends with the CHS executive director at the time, Dennis Daugaard. Children’s Inn desperately needed volunteers. Fortunately, Carolynn had a background in elementary education. In Carolynn’s words, “Kids are my jam.”

For many people, domestic violence and child abuse are “ugly and scary things no one wants to talk about.” But Carolynn believed she could fit in and have an impact on the staff and clients. She did—and a year later, joined the CHS board. Carolyn served on that board for six years, spent six years on the CHS Foundation board, and returned to the Society’s board where she has been ever since.

At the shelter, Carolynn welcomes clients and their children. “I look for that glimmer of light, jump on it, and build upon on it,” she says. Carolynn’s empathy, huge heart, non-judgmental stance, optimism and willingness to “show up” are just a few of the qualities that set her apart.

Over the years Carolynn has built long-standing relationships with staff members, who witness her commitment to the mission of CHS and the clients we serve. Nearly every Wednesday, all day long, Carolynn can be found at the shelter. She has become a trusted member of the team—so much so that Carolynn is invited to staff members’ bridal and baby showers and open houses for graduations.

As a member of the board, Carolynn has become a stalwart and tenacious advocate for all things Children’s Inn. Staff turn to Carolynn with hopes, desires and needs for the shelter. Other board members look to Carolynn for insights and direction. Having witnessed the intensity of the work, Carolynn is the first to offer help and guidance as a board member for anything Children’s Inn-related.

For example, while navigating the ins-and-outs of regulations and procedures, Carolynn fought for the front-line staff who work with clients on a regular basis to have access to free meals while at work. She often brings treats or small gifts for staff. Recently, she and two other board members catered an entire meal for all staff to enjoy.

During the past six years, Carolynn has witnessed first-hand the overcrowding at Children’s Inn. Like the staff, she imagined a place with enough beds and increased services to meet the growing demands of the Sioux Falls community. Today, Carolynn is one of the tri-chairs leading the Gift for Good Campaign raising awareness and funds for the new Children’s Inn.

The combination of Carolynn’s understanding of the unique needs, relationships with staff and clients and passion for CHS allow her to do what she loves—tell the story of CHS and Children’s Inn “all day long!”