Paul Dougall – a resident of middle Tennessee, empty nester, and widower – is constantly finding time to give back to his community.
As an employee of Nissan, Paul first began volunteering through a professional association. One of the nonprofits that Nissan sponsors is Second Harvest Food Bank, an organization that serves as a distribution center for the hungry. He has also volunteered with the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville alongside his coworkers at Nissan, assisting and building homes for new homeowners. Additionally, Paul is a long time member of the Knights of Columbus, which he describes as a “fraternity of Catholic men” whose “common goal is charity and to give back to the community.” With the Knights of Columbus, Paul has managed the Tootsie Roll Drive, a fundraiser for the organization and its charitable funds. Paul even independently volunteered with the Nashville Rescue Mission.
Recently, Paul has volunteered with the nonprofit Hands On Nashville. In December of 2023, several tornadoes ravaged Davidson County, leading him to helping in donation distribution to tornado victims. “Tennessee is the volunteer state, and I definitely have seen that over the seventeen years that I’ve been doing volunteering,” he says. Encouraged by the goodness of others – especially after such disasters, Paul remarks, “It’s a great feeling that there are so many people that are willing to give their time.”
Paul recently suffered the loss of his wife to Alzheimer’s disease. She was diagnosed five years ago, and he was her caregiver in those final years. The diagnosis came five years ago, and he became her caregiver in their final years together. In many of his volunteer pursuits, he was side-by-side with her. This fall, Paul did the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Nashville. His sons in Santa Monica did a walk in their own community. These events raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit that funds Alzheimer’s research and supports affected families. Paul said the walk was “an opportunity to share with other people who are in a similar situation… This organization is near and dear to my heart.” With a national organization like the Alzheimer’s Association, Paul and his sons were able to walk and support the same cause from opposite sides of the country, showing how the power of such causes and organizations can connect people.
Paul, who has given so much time to his community, encourages others to do so as well. Whether it’s volunteering through your company or church, or by finding opportunities that spark your passions, it is important to find time to give back.
