Summer is my favorite season for many reasons, but one is that it can bring more of the gatherings that I find energizing. The in-person connections and shared experiences are meaningful to me in a way that a call doesn’t always achieve.
While that is my own style, there is a school of thought that gathering with others is important for health and happiness. United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy has recently launched a campaign to target the “epidemic of loneliness” noting that “our relationships are a source of healing and well-being.”
New York has long been a social place, whether it is attending a Broadway show, enjoying a softball game in Central Park, or connecting over a meal. It was heartbreaking to see this sense of togetherness wane during the pandemic. The move back to our inherently social culture has breathed life into our city and may contribute to our collective well-being. But one aspect of gathering has lagged: formal volunteering.
In New York state, informal volunteering – lending a helping hand to people we know, for instance – has remained steady, at a 45% participation rate, over the last several years, according to statistics from AmeriCorps. Yet formal volunteering has slumped to 21.7% in 2021 from 25.3% in 2017.
Certainly, the slump in volunteering coincides with a time of not being together due to health restrictions. And, informal helping is essential. It’s what pulled many through the pandemic. There is something unique, though, about formal volunteering – about helping organizations whose missions are to resolve challenges in every corner of New York.
As noted in a recent report, those in the workforce want their organizations’ values to align with their own personal values. The 21st-century professional also craves a sense of purpose. Deloitte research indicates that employees want to work for organizations that demonstrate purpose.
The private sector has a stakeholder-driven opportunity to make an impact. At Deloitte, we aim to do so through a variety of programs that reflect our commitment to purpose, more specifically to sustainability, equity, and trust. Our people can contribute to our purpose and drive impact through volunteerism, pro bono work, skills-based volunteering, donations and workplace giving, nonprofit board and leadership service, and social impact innovation.
Our year-round commitment to volunteering is in the spotlight each June on Impact Day, as Deloitte professionals volunteer in their communities through more than 1,000 in-person and virtual volunteer projects across the country.
My sense of purpose comes from creating opportunity for all. Academic acceleration for under-resourced youth has certainly been a focus area for me, as the work done in this space has the potential to change lives. This is reflected in my volunteer and civic work spanning numerous organizations including the New York CEO Jobs Council, A Better Chance, Braven and more.
On the most recent Impact Day, our professionals volunteered with projects across the city, including one that is dear to me: the Harlem YMCA. It is one of those New York City institutions that reflect history and community. It is worth noting that, this year, the YMCA of Greater New York is celebrating 171 years serving New Yorkers. It has been a welcoming cultural hub for writers, actors, and civil rights leaders. The organization has tackled poverty and urban issues, and provided programs and services to all those that call the neighborhood home.
Opportunity is not readily available for all; the work done at this organization, like so many throughout the city, offers a path to toward it. As the non-profits around us devote themselves to creating opportunity, let’s take a moment to recognize that our coming together for purpose may advance the life-changing work of these local organizations.
After a day of volunteer work, I enjoy gathering with my colleagues for a cool beverage and camaraderie. It is a chance for me to listen to the experiences that they have had, and hear about what drives their passion for giving their time in this way. This end-of-day gathering with colleagues fills me with gratitude. While simply socializing with others may be good for our health, the extra lift from our mutual volunteering adds to my sense of well-being.
As we look ahead at summer, my wish for you is to experience volunteering and feel the joy of collaborating to create opportunity for others. I also hope that your season is marked by gatherings with a supportive and caring community, whether that be amongst your closest companions or more broadly in the city that we love.