August 2004

Suzy Walker, SPA/BA ’86, came to American University with a passion for helping others. Although her major was political science, she immediately got involved with AU’s Best Buddies program. “I mentored two little boys. We did homework together and I played games with them. It was a great experience,” remembers Walker.

That first volunteer experience with Best Buddies is what turned Walker into the active volunteer and philanthropist she is today. Walker spends her days as an attorney specializing in corporate law at Muldoon, Murphy, Faucette & Aguggia. But she spends her free time leading the auction committee for Heart’s Delight, an annual weekend of wine and food related events, which has raised more than $2.5 million for the American Heart Association since 1999.

“I got involved with the group after just attending one their pre-events and was really inspired to get involved with the organization,” she says.

Last year, Heart’s Delight raised more than $600,000 with auction items Walker and her committee members collected, such as insider’s trips to Bordeaux, France; trips to Napa and Sonoma; and special lots of reserve wine, among other items.

“I feel a need to give back to the community, especially since my career in employment law deals with so much wealth. Volunteering creates a balance in my life. I’ve been afforded some amazing opportunities and I feel it’s important to give back.”

Walker also brings her passion for volunteering to the office. During Career Partnership Day, a project initiated by the Bethesda/Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, she mentors one to three high school students, setting up mock legal issues to have them research and present their findings to her and other attorneys. She also sets up clothing drives at her law firm, in coordination with Suited for Change.

“Setting up clothing drives is a low-energy way to give back. It shows people that you don’t need to have a lot of extra time to get involved,” says Walker.

Besides emphasizing that volunteering doesn’t need to need to be a massive time commitment, she also stresses that community service should be performed for one’s personal benefit.

“Some people get involved just for recognition; so they can have their name listed on a committee. Giving back to your community is so much more important than that though. And that was a value that was definitely instilled in me at AU.”

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