Day of Dedicated Service
On the outside, it was seemingly just another quiet Friday morning at Center of Life. However, on the inside of the organization’s facility — a near century-old building once home to the First Hungarian Lutheran Church — was a bustling volunteer crew from Wells Fargo working with COL staff in the process of achieving something together.
Coordinated by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the 25 Wells Fargo volunteers were there to participate in Wells Fargo’s Dedicated Day of Service. UWSP-Greater Pittsburgh Corporate Relations Manager, Lauren Mitchell, was glad to work with COL because of how the organization works to help families holistically. The goal that morning was to make additional improvements to COL offices by painting various rooms throughout the building, revamping some areas, and assembling furniture to outfit new rooms.
Although service days have been offered for years to Wells Fargo employees wanting to give back to their communities, this is the first time COL has been able to partner with Wells Fargo on such an endeavor. Friday, September 20, was also the formal inaugural Dedicated Day of Service for Wells Fargo employees nationally. Volunteers from Wells Fargo participated in 50 projects in 50 cities throughout the day, an amazing commitment to transforming cities where the company resides. This service day has given schools, nonprofits, and other organizations the opportunity to receive some collaborative help through corporate and community partnerships and provides Wells Fargo employees a way to serve a much-needed purpose on a variety of projects.
“In the Northeast we’ve been doing this for years,” said Tiffany Tavarez, Vice President of Community Relations for Wells Fargo.
As the sun beamed Friday morning, volunteers were treated to breakfast before breaking into groups to complete the days’ tasks. Like a well-oiled machine, builders were quick to assemble desks, chairs and shelving, as others enthusiastically cleaned and swept hallways. Just outside the COL doors, another group painted the ramp leading up to the building before moving to the lower level to repaint the walls of the KRUNK Movement rehearsal room. As the day ended, projects that would have taken months for COL staff to complete were finished — a true testament to the work ethic and willingness to give back of the Wells Fargo volunteers.
Tavarez looks forward to the opportunity to come back to Hazelwood and build momentum. She recognizes COL’s commitment to the community and believes it’s important to hold employees to the same level of commitment.
“Paying it forward is not a thing that you do, it’s a way that you live,” she said. We at Center of Life are so thankful for Tiffany, all of the volunteers, and for this partnership. In just a few short hours, the Wells Fargo volunteers not only helped us renovate our offices, but became friends in the process.
- Zion Adissem