Gresham's Kayla Viramontes Named 2024 Volunteer of the Year

While other board presidents might delegate from the sidelines, Kayla Viramontes spent her weekend at the 9U State Championship Tournament working the concession stand, raking fields, and making sure every kid had a blast.

"I am a boots on the ground type of person," she said with a laugh. "You have to get in there and do whatever needs to be done."

That hands-on approach earned Viramontes the 2024 Volunteer of the Year award from the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce. The Outlook newspaper also named her a 2026 Community Hero for her tireless work across the community.

Viramontes serves as president of Gresham Barlow Youth Baseball/Softball, a position she's held for six of her ten years on the board. She got involved before her own kids even joined the league because she believes in teaching life skills through sports.

"It's the camaraderie, new friends, overcoming adversity and life skills," she said.

Her volunteer resume reads like a full-time job. She's on the board of Heart of the Arts, a nonprofit offering free creativity programs for kids at a time when school art budgets are being slashed. She's president of Soroptimists International of Gresham and chairs their famous Teddy Bear Parade, which raises scholarship money for women pursuing higher education.

Viramontes traces her giving spirit back to childhood. Her single mom worked nights at a nursing home and often brought the kids along. They'd listen to war stories, help serve dinner, and simply spend time with residents.

"That gave us a good base understanding of other people and what they may be going through," she said.

After moving to Gresham in 2015 with her husband Mike, Viramontes jumped into community service immediately. She now runs The Bold Orange, a marketing business, while juggling multiple board positions and volunteer roles.

The Ripple Effect

Viramontes worries that volunteerism is dying, but she's fighting back one hot dog at a time. The organizations she supports touch hundreds of local families through youth sports, arts programs, and women's scholarships.

Her leadership style proves that the best way to inspire others is to show up and do the work yourself. Whether she's in budget meetings or grilling burgers, she brings the same energy and commitment.

"Volunteerism is dying, and it is imperative we don't let that happen," she said. "We have to find time to give back."

When she received her Community Hero recognition, Viramontes felt grateful that someone noticed. "Volunteers are often underappreciated," she said. "I try not to let that happen in the groups I'm involved with, and it's kind someone did that for me."

Her advice to anyone hesitant about volunteering is simple: just start. "If I get really passionate or see a need to fill, I will fill it."

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