Nicole Amor

Nicole Amor

She’s making sure young people don’t feel lost or left out

Through her tireless efforts, Nicole Amor connects people with needed programs and services.

This is one of 12 finalists for the Herald Business Journal’s annual Emerging Leaders award, which highlights and celebrates people who are doing good work in Snohomish County. The winner is to be announced during an online event on Thursday. Meet the other finalists.

Nicole Amor, 31

Director of individual giving at Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County

In high school, Nicole Amor felt lost. Anxiety and depression plagued her.

“I had no idea what to do with my life,” she said.

Now through her work and volunteer activities, she hopes to spare other young people the feeling of being lost or left out.

She recently joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County as director of individual giving.

“They have so many offerings, so many programs,” said Amor. “Telling their story is one of my goals.”

“Growing up, I always felt I had everything I needed,” she said. “But I saw another side — people who didn’t have a roof over their head, a place to call home. I wanted to help people, particularly youth.”

When she moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University, she discovered what community — volunteering, helping others — looked and felt like, she said.

Her feelings of emptiness disappeared.

After graduating from WWU, Amor returned to Mukilteo, where she’d grown up, intent on recreating the sense of purpose and community she’d found during her college years.

She volunteered at Bethany of the Northwest, which offers recovery services for adults with disabilities and senior citizens.

Later, an internship with Economic Alliance Snohomish County turned into a permanent job.

She spent six years as the group’s investor relations and events manager. Every year, she organized more than 50 large and small events, making sure they went off without a hitch.

Said a nominator: “Nicole planned and coordinated so many events for Economic Alliance Snohomish County. She also took the initiative to start a young leaders group and planned events for that on top of everything else she did.”

Amor helped organize the Young Professionals Network in partnership with Leadership Snohomish County.

“I was really excited about the opportunity to connect my peers with one another and have young professionals feel as if they have a space and place in Snohomish County,” said Amor.

This year, she decided it was time to return to her roots.

“I wanted to work with youth at a nonprofit — as I intended to do in college,” Amor said.

She joined the executive team at the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Amor continues to volunteer at Bethany. She also serves on the boards of Leadership Launch and United Way of Snohomish County.

“I am a person passionate about bettering and building community,” she said.

Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods

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