Linda Gunn Paton takes a break from helping stuff envelopes at the Junior League of Boca Raton’s offices. Volunteering, she says, makes her feel closer to her community. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Linda Gunn Paton had just gotten married to a man she had met through her community volunteer work, but the honeymoon, well, it would have to wait.
There were board meetings to attend, committees to chair and events to plan — especially the Junior League of Boca Raton’s Woman Volunteer of the Year luncheon, which she is chairing along with her good friend Jan Kucera.
Two days after the wedding, Gunn Paton was at a meeting of the Spirit of Giving Network’s board of directors, serving as secretary and taking notes. In fairness, her new husband, Doug, was also there since he’s now board president.
“Within a week of the wedding, I was definitely back in the thick of things,” she says.
For Linda Gunn Paton, being in the thick of things — especially if it involves serving the community — is one of her favorite places to be.
A former president of the Junior League of Boca Raton, Gunn Paton is a longtime Delray Beach resident who earlier this year served as co-chair of the Delray Beach Public Library’s Centennial Celebration Committee. She has been president of the Spirit of Giving Network and serves on the board of the Florida Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters.
She also holds down a full-time job, as a senior district sales manager for a large international company that produces and sells eyeglasses, sunglasses and a variety of other products.
“I really enjoy volunteering,” she said. “It makes me feel close to my community when I give back. I feel like I know it better. I know the small and the big and it warms my heart to know a community inside and out.”
A Michigan native, Gunn Paton, 46, lives just a stone’s throw from the beach — an area she’s known for quite some time.
“I’ve been coming to Delray since I was 4,” she said. “My grandmother lived here.”
After graduating college with a degree in family services and an emphasis on child development, Gunn Paton wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do, so she took a job as a nanny. When the family she worked for moved to Boca Raton, she came with them.
“Four years later, my friends did a nanny intervention,” she said. “They told me ‘You can’t be a nanny anymore.’ ”
During her early years here, Gunn Paton decided to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and the Junior League.
“I love, love, love what the Junior League does for this community,” she said.
The feeling, is, of course, reciprocal. The Junior League loves what Gunn Paton does for the community, too.
“Our mission is promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community,” said Crystal McMillin, current Junior League president. “Linda’s personality draws our volunteers to want to work with her, which advances our mission. She has always had a passion for our community work and has given countless hours to improve it through her work with the Junior League.”
Along with Kucera — the co-chair — Gunn Paton is bringing a fresh approach to the Woman Volunteer of the Year luncheon, now entering its 26th year.
The Junior League of Boca Raton’s largest fundraiser, expected to attract more than 700 guests, the luncheon will be held at Boca West Country Club on Nov. 8. It will feature a punk rock-inspired fashion show and of course the presentation to the Woman Volunteer of Year, selected from 28 nominees.
“This is such a big event, it would be too much for one person as chair,” Gunn Paton said. “Jan and I have different strengths and together we make the perfect team.”
— Rich Pollack
Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A. I grew up in Ann Arbor, Mich. I was lucky to grow up where people worked together with the university to give back. My parents were always doing something with our community and still do!
Q. What professions have you worked in? What life accomplishments are you most proud of?
A. I have been in the fashion and luxury industry throughout my career. I am most proud of the current team I have built here in South Florida. Each person I work with has grown and developed and we now have a well-oiled machine in this area.
Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today?
A. Make sure you get a college degree — it is so important today. Then choose a job that makes you happy and one you can grow in. It is so important to love what you do because we spend so much time doing our jobs.
Q. What is your favorite part about living in Delray Beach?
A. The people — we have such a great melting pot here in Delray Beach, and I love that everyone is friendly and nice.
Q. What book are you reading now?
A. The Clifton Chronicles, by Jeffrey Archer. I love the way he writes. I read a lot of fiction!
Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?
A. For inspiration. I am a huge ’80s music fan so anything from that era. To relax I like ’80s as well … LOL.
Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions?
A. “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” — Coco Chanel
Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?
A. Yes. Cathy Grazadei, who was my general manager when I worked at Bloomingdales in the Town Center mall. She took me under her wing and helped me develop my management skills.
Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
A. My life feels like a movie each and every day so I guess I would want to play myself.
Q. Who/what makes you laugh?
A. My husband. He cracks me up.
If You Go
What: 26th annual Woman Volunteer of the Year luncheon
Where: Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton
When: Nov. 8
Time: Luncheon at noon, silent auction opens at 10:30 a.m.
Tickets: $95, $125 and $200
Highlights: Selection of Woman Volunteer of the Year from 28 nominees, punk rock-inspired fashion show
Presented by: Junior League of Boca Raton
Committee co-chairs: Linda Gunn Paton and Jan Kucera
Award Sponsor: Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation
More information: www.jlbr.org/wvoy
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