Rocket Companies team members are focused on the community – which is a big part of the reason that in 2023, we were able to hit the huge milestone of over 1 million volunteer hours nationwide. Their passion for making a positive impact strengthens the ties we have with our nonprofit partners, hundreds of organizations that represent the causes most important to Rocket team members.
Rocket Mortgage Data Analyst Ashley Szpanelewski is a perfect example of passion meets purpose. She loves to volunteer, especially when it comes to environmentally-focused organizations like the Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit organization dedicated to tree planting, workforce development, providing green jobs, and engaging programming.
Szpanelewski loves the outdoors in part because of the healing effects of thriving green spaces. “Nature is excellent for our mental health. Just 20 minutes a day spent outdoors can help reduce stress,” she said. “Plus, nature provides clean air, water, food, and space for recreation. It is so important that we protect the environment for future generations.”
Companies, and remembers seeing buses full of Rocket volunteers showing up to get their hands dirty. “Everyone seemed to love working [at Rocket Companies], she said, so she was very excited to join the company back in 2021 – and even more thrilled to partake in the wide variety of volunteer opportunities the company has to offers, including continuing her work with the Greening.
Szpanelewski is such a passionate volunteer that she has reached the ranks of “Citizen Forester” at the Greening, which means she leads groups of volunteers through tree planting. In this role, she has led many Rocket Team members through tree planting, park cleanup and gardening at Lafayette Greens.
In 2024, the Gilbert Family Foundation made a landmark $1.8M investment into the Greening of Detroit – the largest philanthropic gift the organization has ever received – to support workforce development and programming. At the Rocket Community Fund, we partner with the Greening to supply volunteers for tree planting and urban gardening at the popular community garden, Lafayette Greens. The garden was also the spot where last summer, we surprised some of our team member volunteers with the news that their efforts helped us reach 1,000,000 volunteer hours nationwide!
As for Szpanelweski, she recognizes the importance between our work in the community and the advocacy of team members as a catalyst for community support. “Volunteering is important because it strengthens our ties to the community we work in, as well as the ties to our fellow team members,” she said. It really emphasizes one of our ISMs, “We Are The They,” – together, we can do amazing things to support our communities, and each other!”
