POSTED: Saturday, March 14, 2009/JACH News Service               LAFAYETTE – The name Tracie Ransom may not resonate in the Greater Lafayette area like the mayor, city councilman or other public officials, but she has quietly made a difference in the lives of many in the community through her volunteer work.             Ransom has selflessly given her time to organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and for the last six years the United Way of Greater Lafayette, helping them raise funds. In turn the United Way has used those funds to distribute to organizations helping the area’s most needy residents.             It’s something that Ransom, who works in the quality assurance department at Tippecanoe Labs for Eli Lilly, doesn’t have to do, but something she said she believes is important.             “You really don't know what's out there and what people need help with,” Ransom said. “I really felt like you get a lot impact personally. I'm lucky and fortunate for what I have. Just by volunteering, there's a lot of people can donate. It’s my way of giving back to community. You just see so many positive things happening.”             Ashley Brazelton, communications/campaign associate with the United Way, described Ransom as one of the agency’s “super volunteers.” Brazelton said Ranson has helped with its kick-off event and meeting in the community for the past six years. Ransom is active with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, serving on its board of directors and acting as a “big sister” to disadvantaged youth. “I got to see first hand what the United Way did and how it helped in the community,” Ransom said. “Volunteering through them I got to see some other agencies like Lafayette Transitional Housing, seeing what the dollars in the community really does. “I'm passionate about kids making sure they have a positive role model. It’s important how a child grows up and being a positive adult in the community. I've seen good outcomes from that.”
            Ransom, 36, said Tippecanoe Labs generously gives employees time off to volunteer, but she didn’t become passionate about it until she volunteered for Lafayette Transitional Housing and feeding the homeless. She said she was surprised by the number of homeless in the Lafayette area and moved by the effort of volunteers to make sure the homeless are helped in some way. “I saw a lot of homeless people,” Ransom said. “For some of those people, it was the only meal they had in days. I just couldn’t believe it. A lot of these men were vets. One was in his 20s. “I couldn’t believe the world would let this happen to people, who don't have food just to make it. That really affected me.” Ransom said she even got her husband, Mike Stephens, involved in volunteering. “Growing up, I've always been a person who wanted to give,” Ransom said. “It just came natural to me. I see myself volunteering and teaching my children to volunteer. It’s been great to work with the United Way, different events and marketing. They’re great people.”  Ransom said young people should learn early about the value of volunteering and how it would help their community and help them see their world in the different light. “I would tell people volunteer one time at an event and see what it does to you,” Ransom said. “I think people will see an impact. I know my husband was not involved in any of these things and now he's involved in the United Way since meeting me.”