Gloria and Cindy Knoch Volunteer of the Year Award Winner – Kaitlyn Russell

Each year, GiGi’s Nashville recognizes a volunteer who amplifies the voices of our participants and truly represents the mission of GiGi’s – to be accepting, generous, and kind. 

Kaitlyn Russell first started volunteering with GiGi’s Nashville back in 2016. By day Kaitlyn works as a legal assistant with Baker Donelson but at GiGi’s she is a CrossFit leader extraordinaire. She is always looking for ways to help our GiGi’s athletes improve while leading our CrossFit program twice a month. After COVID hit in 2020, GiGi’s Nashville quickly moved to virtual programming. Kaitlyn single handedly organized the CrossFit volunteers to create and implement weekly recorded video workouts. This allowed our participants to stay active at home and learn how to use items in their home for daily workouts as well.

For many years, Kaitlyn and our CrossFit volunteers have organized the Row-For-A-Reason fundraiser. Kaitlyn helps train GiGi athletes for the event and organizes teams to help raise funds for GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville. She has also volunteered at events such as our Trunk-Or-Treat and GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge.

Fellow volunteer and friend, Cody Edwards says of Kaitlyn: “She is one of the most generous people I know and is always thinking of how to put others before herself. She loves GiGi’s and makes it a priority in her life, and it shows because the love that is returned from all of the GiGi’s athletes!”

Kaitlyn’s heart for our participants is contagious and she truly wants each participant to achieve their “best of all”. Her commitment to GiGi’s Nashville and her positive can-do attitude are a blessing to the staff and we are so grateful for her dedication to GiGi’s Nashville.