Fidelity Cares® was started so our employees could actively volunteer and share their many talents. We are committed to driving impact in our communities and with organizations that address racial equity and social justice. We provide programs that allow our employees to positively impact our communities, expand capacity for our community partners, and drive innovation through volunteerism. FidelityJobs sat down with Jonathan to learn more about his experience volunteering through Fidelity Cares.
Name: Jonathan
Title: Regional Planning Consultant (Personal Investing)
Position and name of nonprofit: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Jonathan, tell us a bit about CASA. What they do? Who do they serve?
CASA partners with children in the court system who don’t have anyone to advocate for them. Their mission is to provide a voice for children from infancy up to age 25 who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Volunteers have a variety of roles. Some act as tutors and assist with life skills, some work with kids in the foster care system, and some support a child during court proceedings. Most are complicated situations, so CASA provides extensive training for all volunteers.
How long have you been associated with CASA?
I’ve been volunteering with CASA for about 8 months. During my training, which lasted 6 weeks, I attended two times per week for about two and half hours. Currently, I work with one individual who is an adoptee from overseas. I spend a couple hours per week with him, primarily working on life skills. Most recently, I helped him with his college applications and writing a resume. I’m a safe adult for him to talk to and lean on, to help make his family situation easier.
How did you first get involved?
My wife (Kat, who is also a Fidelity employee), and I have been married 10 years and we have a 22-year-old daughter. When she left home, we considered adopting since we both have a big heart for teenagers. I was also inspired by a colleague in my Fidelity LEAD class who spoke about CASA and the ripple effect they have on the kids they serve. They truly change lives.
I met with the staff there – they’re amazing and so passionate about what they do. I decided that I could use the time I used to spend taking my daughter to cross country and Girl Scouts to volunteer at CASA.
Why did you agree to volunteer?
I’m most interested in “hand to hand combat” when it comes to volunteering. I wanted to have a direct impact on an individual and CASA gives me the opportunity to do that.
What’s been the most interesting part of your experience? Has anything surprised you?
The most surprising thing has been some of the family situations I’ve encountered. Kids who need the kind of advocacy CASA provides come from very diverse backgrounds – some are wealthy, and some are quite poor. CASA assists children in almost every county in the state and as a volunteer, you see dynamics you wouldn’t necessarily expect. We’re taught not to make assumptions and to focus on the individuals we’re serving.
Why would you recommend that Fidelity employees consider volunteering, at CASA or elsewhere?
Volunteering is a great way to get to know realities in the community and to develop empathy. CASA enables volunteers to be involved in a child’s life in a meaningful way and to truly make an impact on their future. Children don’t typically have relationships outside a specific circle of family, teachers and perhaps a coach or clergy member. This gives them an adult that they can rely on outside their usual network.
Seeing what the kids and families at CASA go through helps me in my work. I try to bring that same empathy to my interactions with clients, friends, and family. I think that the best way to change the world is one person at a time. Everyone can find their own path to that, and we can’t all do everything but if you find one thing that inspires you, you can make a difference. For me, that’s kids, financial literacy, and education. But everyone can find their thing.
