One look at Paul Kiger’s blog, Big Green Pen or any of her social media pages, and you realize Paula supports everyone from our men and women in the military to children and caregivers around the world. Paula Kiger gives back to the community at large more than anyone I know, and she does it with enthusiasm and a genuine heart. Paula’s always posting blogs about people and everyday heroes she meets; other people’s acts of kindness; children in need of healthcare and ways her readers can help.

The real hero in my book is Paula Kiger.

Before she won 1010ParkPlace’s $500 Lancome Cosmetic GiveAway, I’d never heard of Paula Kiger. Once she was on my radar, I began to see all of the amazing things she does on a daily basis for others. It made me want to know more about her, so I called her.

“I was fortunate that from a very young age, my parents supported community service,” Paula said. “Life has been trying to teach me, for a long time now, that it’s incredible how many people are willing to pitch in and help, with just a little bit of guidance, encouragement—and here’s the important thing—my willingness to ask them in the first place.”

Paula’s a caregiver to her 86-year-old father-in-law who’s had a series of strokes. Somehow she still manages to funnel her energies in other ways that matter. She likes connecting the dots; putting people together with ways they can help others. One of the many ways she does this is with Charity Miles, an App that secures sponsorships for various charities every time you walk, run or bike. To date, Paula’s run a total of 4,899 miles—741 of them so far this year—to raise money for good causes.

“Today I walked a mile, and I designated St. Jude as my charity,” Paula said. “St. Jude will get a quarter because I walked that mile. Or I ran four miles for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, one of my main causes, so a dollar was donated. A dollar isn’t going to change the world, but they add up and raise awareness which can be an intangible difference in and of itself.”

Here are just a few of the recent causes Paula actively supports:

• ShotAtLife.org, a United Nations Foundation that educates, connects and empowers Americans to donate vaccines that can prevent childhood diseases and deaths in developing countries.

• Random Acts of Kindness for Caregivers recognizes and raises awareness about caregiving and caregivers, while rewarding them for their often unsung efforts.

• The Shoe That Grows in Cambodia benefits 512 children, at one of three Light of Future Schools, who need shoes. At $15 per shoe, they need to raise $9,000 for their 2016 Mission Trip. Can you find it in your heart to buy at least one pair of shoes?

• Girls on the Run helps girls and women reach their potential by using a fun, experience-based curriculum that integrates a healthy, active lifestyle. Find out how you can make a difference as a volunteer, a coach or a running buddy at one of their 225 councils around the country.

I have the best readers in the world, women like Paula Kiger. Thank you for enriching my life by allowing me to get to know you.