Citizens Bank: Colleague Volunteer Stories from Our Local Communities

Originally published by Citizens Bank.

Citizenship is at the heart of who we are. It’s rooted in our belief that when people and communities reach their fullest potential, we all thrive. It's also why giving back is part of our Credo and why our dedicated colleagues devote thousands of volunteer hours each year to support causes that they are passionate about.

We're proud of dedicated colleagues like Derrick, Jessika, Ben, Shekier, and Jon, who selflessly share their time and talent to bring our commitment to our communities to life. Read on to learn why they volunteer and how they have helped their communities.

Derrick Williams,VP, Dealer Relationship Manager in Fishers, I

“Put yourself out there. We have so much to be thankful for and you never know the difference you can make in someone's life by lending a helping hand."

After completing a month of community service in high school as part of his senior year curriculum, Derrick was inspired to continue giving back to the community. Currently, he spends the most of his time volunteering with Men of the Family, an organization he founded that has a 90% success rate of helping high school students achieve their dream of playing college basketball.

One of Derrick’s favorite volunteer moments was working with a student named Kyle, who eventually won a National Championship for the University of Virginia and was then drafted in the second round of the NBA draft. “He was an under the radar young man in high school that no one believed could even play at a school as highly regarded as Virginia, let alone the NBA,” Derrick said. “Together, we assembled a plan to help him strive for his goals..”

To Derrick, one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering, is “knowing that I can help others achieve their goals and aspirations or give them a hand through difficult times.” If you’re considering volunteering he says to “put yourself out there, you never know the difference you can make in someone’s life.”

Jessika Faulkner, AVP, Virtual Business Relationship Manager in Fort Wayne, PA

At a young age, Jessika learned the power of community when those around her stepped up to support her family. Today, she is the Treasurer of Fair Amount Food Forest, a startup nonprofit with the mission to create a community-based, publicly accessible and educational food forest garden in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.

"The most rewarding part of giving back for me is always about the interactions with people. I've had the most beautiful and genuine interactions with the communities I am serving and with my fellow service members. There is something about acting in the interest of the greater good that brings the most serendipitous moments to fruition."

Engaging in skills-based volunteerism, Jessika has helped build Fair Amount Food Forest from the ground up by participating in activities ranging from financial accounting and contract management to grant writing and program development.

Jessika’s advice for getting involved is simple: start now and start today. “Making a difference does not have to be about starting an organization or donating money,” she said. “You can make a different by being kind to your neighbors or picking up trash when nobody is looking. Often times, it’s the smallest acts of kindness that make the difference.”

Ben Rogers, SVP, Corporate Banking Relationship Manager in Wilmington, DE

“My greatest passion is investing in children. Almost all of my volunteer time has been centered around the advancement of education and support of our leaders of tomorrow.”

What started as serving underprivileged youth for a week every year during high school and college has turned into a life-long journey of giving back to the community for Ben. Ben has sought out opportunities to give back to organizations that have helped him in his life or that support his passion of ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

“I have learned so much about the struggles of others through my volunteer time. As a result of this greater understanding, I am a better citizen, a better mentor, better father and a better advocate for our children.”

Ben currently serves on the Board of Directors for three organizations including Benchmark School, where he has led the development of long-term strategic plans and has witnessed the transformation of young learners. “These students, many who’ve struggled to learn effectively in a traditional classroom, graduate as confident self-advocates, fully equipped with strategies to overcome any challenge,” Ben said. “Seeing the changed lives of the future generation of our community is a truly rewarding experience.” 

Shekier Walker, AVP, Regional Operations Coach in New York, NY

"There is nothing more self-affirming then knowing that I have done something good for an individual or family. Volunteering is fulfilling and it gives me a sense of purpose."

When Shekier was in college, she knew she wanted to make a difference in her community. That’s when she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an organization of women committed to public service with a primary focus on the Black community, and has been an active member ever since.

“Everyone has a skill or experience from which another person or persons can benefit. If you aren't putting your talents to your best use in your everyday life, volunteering can be a prime way to share. It just feels good!”

Through the years, Shekier has volunteered at Delta Sigma Theta events like clothing and food drives, fundraisers and youth programs. One experience that sticks out the most was when she traveled to Ghana and the Ivory Coast of Africa for two weeks to build a home for a deserving family and provide supplies to a local school. “There is nothing more self-affirming than knowing that I have done something good for an individual or family,” Shekier said. “This experience and opportunity was like no other and one I will always cherish.”

Jon Scalzitti, VP, Scrum Master Pittsburgh, PA

“Look for something your passionate about and see how that can be tied to helping make a difference in your community.”

One of Jon’s favorite volunteer moments was with Project Bundle-Up, a program that provides new winter clothes and shoes to children and seniors from low-income households in Western PA. He was paired up with a 7-year-old boy who joined him on a shopping trip to Walmart. “When he saw where he was, he got so excited and had tears in his eyes. It felt so good to be able to help him select a new winter coat, gloves, hat and shoes.”

Since then, Jon has dedicated the majority of his community service efforts to supporting Salvation Army and their events throughout the year, such as the Back to School CARnival, Pumpkin Festival, Drop, Hero Drive Thru and more. For Jon, the most rewarding part of giving back is “to see the smiles you put on people’s faces just by showing up to help out.”

Citizenship is part of our principal value. We strive to contribute to a better quality of life by serving the communities across our footprint. Learn more about how our colleagues are making an impact in their communities and how Citizens supports their efforts. Through our Citizens Helping Citizens initiative, we are committed to building stronger communities and a brighter future for all.

Learn about all the ways we give back to our communities.