TDS has named Associate Manager of Communications Cheryl McCollum, a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, its Volunteer of the Quarter.
Volunteering has been a key focus for McCollum throughout her life. When her children were growing up on Madison’s east side, she supported their activities whether it was academic or athletic. She volunteered at the All-City Swim meets, served as the YMCA MEYO Swim Team President, coached youth softball teams, PTG fundraisers, and served as the Madison East High School Booster Club Secretary. Currently, she helps promote inclusivity at TDS as a board member for the company’s ABLE Associate Resource Group (ARG).
Since 2017, McCollum has volunteer at Luke House on Ingersoll Street in Madison, but her volunteer efforts have largely focused on St. Dennis Lighthouse Ministries, where she serves as a board member. Lighthouse Ministries works to empower the children and people of Belize through education, employment, and opportunity. Since 2018, she has been on three service trips to Belize, where she has connected with community members, helped lead programs, provided educational assistance, and helped fundraise and organize the local construction of a new school.
Many of the fundraising has been raised through McCollum and her husband, Steve’s, volunteer efforts at concession stands across the Madison area.
TDS Director of External Affairs and Communications Kit Beyer nominated Cheryl for the Volunteer of the Quarter award.
“Cheryl enthusiastically serves others in so many ways, not only in the Madison area but around the world,” Beyer said. “She is a worthy recipient of Volunteer of the Quarter and is a great reflection of TDS’ core value of community investment.”
Helping the communities where TDS offers services is an important part of the company’s mission. TDS provides associates with 16 hours of paid time off every year at a 501 (c)(3) organization of their choice through its Be Good Citizens program.