Robin Winner
A Hero In Our Midst

When Robin Winner realized there wasn't enough time in a day to work and volunteer, she decided to make community service her profession.

For thirty years, Winner has been working in and outside the office with service organizations across the country. Now, as the Executive Director of Synergy Services in Kansas City, Winner, 59, has led the construction of an elaborate support network for the intervention and prevention of domestic abuse.

"I was there at the beginning, part of the whole development of the domestic violence movement," said Winner of her work with Jewish Women United in the 1970s. "We worked across the country establishing that it wasn't an entitlement to abuse women, making that a reality."

In her hometown of Kansas City, Winner has united national and local organizations to build a network of shelters, support systems, and prevention programs. The former chair of an association of 115 United Way agencies and a former Camp Fire USA district director, Winner inspired those organizations to collaborate with Synergy Services to fight domestic violence. She helped them institute counseling programs and a bullying prevention program in Kansas City Schools.

"Robin does as much volunteer work in the community as possible along with managing Synergy," said Judy Dale, one of Winner's colleagues at Synergy Services. "Robin volunteers at the Saint Vincent Soup Kitchen, and, as Robin is Jewish, she goes to the Synergy residential programs and cooks so that staff can be with their families on Christmas. Everything she does is above and beyond what is reasonably expected of her."

In addition to devoting her career and her free time to volunteering, Winner has brought service into her family's lifestyle as well. "I went into the family business," she says of her commitment to volunteerism. "It was always expected that we be involved… Now, both of my kids do volunteering. They both are working in the service providing area."

But Winner insists that what she does is not out of the ordinary. "I've always felt that I have, that everybody has, an obligation to help heal the world. We really need to address the issues by solving problems and by empowering people."

To honor Winner's commitment to service and her contribution to the victims of domestic abuse and violence prevention, please send cards to:

Robin Winner
c/o Camp Fire USA Heartland Council
7930 State Line Road, Suite 100
Prairie Village, Kansas 66208