Making an impact in the communities we call home through volunteering and giving is an integral part of our culture in the Rock Family of Companies, and it starts at the very top! A few months ago, our Amazement team – whose goal is to provide our 30,000 team members and leaders with an amazing work experience – partnered with our Volunteer Engagement and Giving team to organize a virtual volunteer experience for a group of senior leaders within the Rock Family of Companies.
Known collectively as “The Band,” these senior leaders oversee Rock Central, which is a professional services company with team members who are experts in many different areas, including human resources, accounting, technology, legal services, marketing, public relations and more.
“Volunteering has always been a focus for us. Our goal for Rock Central is to have 100% engagement – with every team member volunteering in 2021. It is important to lead from the front. If we are asking our team members put a focus on it, leaders needs to live by that as well,” explained Ashley Milgram, Senior Director of Strategic Business Support at Rock Central. “We were also able to show how simple it is to implement a volunteering activity during an already existing team meeting.”
The event chosen by the Amazement team was called Postcards for Heroes, a favorite among team members and leaders alike. During the pandemic, many of our team members wanted an outlet to express their support for essential workers. Writing encouraging postcards was a creative way to share those feelings of gratitude to our heroes on the frontlines.
Milgram said The Band loved the activity. “Before the meeting, we requested each Band member share a song that made them feel grateful. We compiled all of the songs into a playlist and played it throughout the activity. It was a nice addition for The Band members to share their story of why that song impacts them the way it does.” The group volunteering experience also had an added benefit, Milgram said, “Not only were we working together to volunteer, but we were also getting to know each other through the process.
We asked a few of the participating leaders to talk a little more about their experience and why they believe volunteering is such a critical part of our culture in the Family of Companies.
Linglong He, President and Chief Operating Officer, Rock Central
“It’s critical for all of us to be involved in our communities. Our companies make a positive impact on our team members, clients and communities. By volunteering, and helping our communities, it makes us all more fulfilled and happier! This past year was a difficult time for most people but together we can bring the sunshine and make an impact on each other. Even doing something as simple as writing thank you cards to our frontline workers can help make a difference. That’s what we did at our Rock Central Senior leadership offsite this year, and I am grateful we were given the opportunity to thank these heroes.”
Todd Horner, Vice President, Focus
“We work and play in this city, so it is important for our team members to get involved in our communities and make a positive impact. This postcard campaign was a great opportunity to support our men and women in uniform. Hopefully, it reinforced with them that average Americans value what they are doing and appreciate the strength and fortitude they demonstrate. It was personally meaningful to me because both family and friends have served in the military during times of peace and conflict. Their collective experiences and stories taught me to respect those serving and to recognize the sacrifices they make to their safety and comfort to protect our freedoms and democracy.”
Mike Malloy, Chief Amazement Officer
“Volunteering in our communities is key part of who we are as a ‘for more than profit’ organization. Too often, we take our heroes for granted as we go through the day. This was a great opportunity to take time away from the day-to-day business so we could reflect on the sacrifices of those who serve our country and have been on the front lines.”
Angelo Vitale, General Counsel and Secretary, Rocket Companies
“We prioritize volunteering throughout our entire organization because we are part of our community; it’s where we live, work and play. At Rock Central, our volunteering goal for 2021 is 100% engagement by all of our Team Members – we are all in, all the time. With the pandemic, we did not halt our volunteering events – instead we pivoted to virtual opportunities. Being stuck inside was not going to prevent us from supporting our frontline workers, teachers, military service members, and other heroes in our communities who make tremendous sacrifices every day to serve and protect us all. We are grateful to them, and volunteering is our way of saying thank you.”
Leading By Example
As a “For More Than Profit” Family of Companies, we recognize that we can only be successful if the communities in which we operate are successful too. That’s why it’s so important for team members to see their leaders apply the same energy and passion for community work as they do toward our business goals. The Band’s commitment to Postcards for Heroes, among many other volunteer activities, is a wonderful inspiration to all Rock FOC team members and proof that actions truly speak louder than words.