In this illustrated series, we highlight how our team members are drawn to make an impact (literally!) by showcasing their inspiring volunteering and fundraising stories.
As a Divisional Vice President of Rocket Mortgage in Charlotte, you could say Paul has a lot of leadership experience. But for the past several years, Paul has been leading in a different way – by spending his time volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
The Rocket Community Fund has a special partnership with BBBS called Beyond School Walls, where “Littles” enrolled in the program come to the Rocket Mortgage Charlotte office every other week and are mentored by team members. Paul has participated in Beyond School Walls since the partnership began six years ago. “I had always heard of Big Brothers Big Sisters growing up, but never really thought I “qualified” to be a Big or a mentor, so although interested, didn’t ever pursue until the opportunity was presented to me through Rocket,” he said.
The experience was profoundly positive for Paul, who has mentored two “Littles” for the entirety of their middle school careers. Paul has even stepped beyond the Beyond School Walls program to better support their efforts and his Littles. He has become an unofficial ambassador for the program, working closely with the local program coordinator to increase his volunteer hours after work, while encouraging his team members to get involved. Paul continues to mentor his “Littles” as much as he can, even attending their baseball games and other milestone life events.
As someone who has been with Rocket Companies for over 11 years, Paul has always felt empowered to support the community, and he has encouraged his team members to do the same. “Rocket has not only encouraged volunteering since I started working here, but there is a concerted effort to provide practical ways to make sure we get every opportunity to make an impact,” Paul said. He listed examples such as unlimited volunteer hours that team members can use to volunteer at company-sponsored volunteer events, as well as team-member driven fundraising efforts like the Community Challenge and more. “One of the first things you learn when Rocket Companies is that we are a “For More Than Profit” company,” Paul said. “That’s a big part of why volunteering is embedded in the fabric of who we are as an organization. We’re always trying to help the communities we call home.”
Learn how you can get involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in your area, and explore other stories of team members making a positive impact here.
