Natalie Sweet just loves to help out.
There are times when, she admits, she doesn't always realize just how much she's doing for the Plant City Family YMCA. But the Y felt Sweet's worked hard enough to receive its annual Volunteer of the Year award.
"I think that winning the award, I feel a little overwhelmed," Sweet said. "I thought I did a lot, but I didn't think I did that much. I was honored to receive it."
Sweet left her native Massachusetts for Plant City in 1989, and currently works as a Keller Williams Realtor with partner Angel Miller. She and her husband, Mike, have three children and seven grandchildren, with whom they like to travel.
She has been on the Plant City Family's YMCA Board of Directors since 2012, currently as a vice-chair, and gets involved in nearly every event and activity.
"I know that it helps people achieve what they need to achieve, as far as bringing new programs in and helping underprivileged people in the area," Sweet says. "I know that what the Y does for people is so important to the community."
She has also been the chairperson of the Strong Leader Dinner Planning Committee since 2014.
"Natalie was selected due to her dedication and commitment to the Plant City Family YMCA," Executive Director Rick Gould said. "Natalie’s dedication shows through her participation in the planning teams for our annual Dean’s Ride, which raises money for our Livestrong at the YMCA cancer survivor program, and our annual Turkey Trot, which supports youth scholarships for YMCA programs like summer camp, swim lessons and youth sports."
In addition to her volunteer work, Sweet is also eager to work on her own personal health goals. After participating in the 2012 Slimpossible Challenge, placing first with a team of five women, she admits that she has been "slacking" since then, and hopes to get back to the level of fitness she reached four years ago with help from her colleagues at the Y.
"I'm back again, working out and doing all those things, along with my responsibilities as a board member," Sweet says.