Volunteer Profile: Curt Peters

Every nonprofit needs a strong board. Its members should bring to the table a variety of skills, a willingness to work hard, and a collective wealth of experience.

But no matter how diverse the board, the common denominator must be passion for the mission and a drive to share it.

For Curt Peters, father of three boys between the ages of five and ten, the reason to serve—the passion to serve—is clear. “There are homeless children in a tough situation,” he says, “kids in our elementary school.”

“It’s so important for COTS to provide them with a foundation and a springboard. Knowing that they have a roof over the heads, just like my kids do, knowing that they have internet access and can keep up with their school…that feels good.”

At 35, Curt is the Director of Finance for Enphase Energy, a solar energy tech company with offices in Petaluma. In his spare time, he’s earning his MBA from UC Berkeley.

COTS CEO Chuck Fernandez is grateful for Curt’s business acumen and his social amenity. When Curt weighs in on an issue, “it is always with the highest amount of respect, courtesy and professionalism,” Chuck says.

Curt looks forward to the day when he and many others of his generation can contribute even more.

“People my age, we’re getting kids to school, we’re getting established, we’re busy,” he says. “I’m learning from the seasoned board members so that one day the torch can be passed.”

Right now, Curt is happy that his board assignments give him flexibility. Depending on the time he has available, he can make thank you calls, speak at a function or invite people to COTS events.

“It doesn’t matter how busy we are, we can step up,” he says. “Everything counts. If you can deliver a food box, if you can donate something. It all counts.”

Curt’s inspired to volunteer by his faith and good examples in his life like his wife Catherine, who volunteers “non-stop,” Curt says. Catherine has thrown on an apron to volunteer in COTS’ food programs and she also helps in her children’s classrooms.

A numbers guy, Curt wishes there was a way to reckon the benefit of COTS’ services to the entire community. “COTS impacts all of us in this incredible way,” he says. “Whether it’s less of a demand for hospital services, cleaner streets, kids doing better in school. There are all these things that we wouldn’t recognize unless they were gone.”

Thank you for your service, Curt!