A Cure for the Soul

Megan Dowdy, a Dr. Phillips resident, just can’t help herself. She has been drawn to volunteering her entire life because she was raised in a family that values helping others by giving of themselves.

She stays busy with her work as a broker for Megan Dowdy Realty and spends most of her free time giving back. Dowdy is the president of the board for the Orlando Sports Foundation (OSF), an organization that provides athletic and social events in the community to support charitable organizations for youth. She is also the hospitality/host committee chairwoman for the AutoNation Cure Bowl, Orlando’s third post-season college football bowl game that was developed by the team at OSF. This year will be the first game.

The mission of the AutoNation Cure Bowl is to bring teams together to find a cure for cancer. All of the proceeds from the game will go directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, where 91 cents of every dollar raised goes directly toward research.

Locally, OSF has donated $5,000 to Florida Hospital, which was used to have a spa day for women suffering from the devastating effects of breast cancer. “The ladies went and they bought wigs there,” says Dowdy. “When you see the benefits, it is so inspiring. What we are doing at the Orlando Sports Foundation is bigger than any of us.”

Alan Gooch, executive director for OSF and CEO of the Cure Bowl has worked closely with Dowdy on projects within the organization. He says, “Megan was gracious in offering her family’s bowling center for the Strike Out Breast Cancer bowling event. I’ve been a part of a lot of boards, but Megan has been as active a board member of any board I’ve been a part of.”

For those who may also want to feel the powerful benefits of volunteering, Dowdy advises to find the outlet that best suits your passions and ideals. “Whether you help the homeless or needy children, follow your passion,” she says. “Do your research before you volunteer. Make sure your time and talents and treasure – the three T’s – are not being taken advantage of.” Since volunteers are currently needed to help at OSF and with the AutoNation Cure Bowl, Dowdy encourages anyone who is interested to get in touch with them.

Besides having a generous heart, she loves helping others. “I love the give-back aspect. Being able to help others. I was raised in a family that understood that not everyone is as lucky or as blessed as we are,” says Dowdy. “I want to leave the world a better place than how we found it. It has been a lifetime of giving back.”