November 20, 2019
Michael Allen had just joined Independence Blue Cross in 2011 when an enthusiastic colleague encouraged him to sign up for the company’s volunteer program, the Blue Crew. He thought it would be interesting to try something new, so he volunteered on a beautification project at a local historic graveyard in Philadelphia. The rest is history — Michael has been an active Blue Crew volunteer ever since.
Since then, Michael has supported dozens of volunteer projects. Last year alone, he donated more than 100 hours of service! Most importantly, his passion for giving back has only continued to grow.
“I love giving back. It builds your empathy for others and helps you understand people from other backgrounds,” he said. “Most importantly, it feels good to know I’m making a difference in the lives of people who need it the most.”
Michael’s passion and commitment to volunteering are evident, which led to his induction onto the Blue Crew Advisory Board. In this role, he serves as an ambassador for the program, helps select projects and events, solicits new volunteer opportunities, and leads at least two projects a year.
One of the projects he led this year was the Philadelphia UNCF Mayors Masked Ball, a fundraising event that provides scholarships to deserving students in the community — it’s also his favorite volunteer project.
“Besides the fact that we get to dress up, it’s a lot of fun and you get to support a great cause — education,” he said.
Eight years after he first joined the company, the tables have turned, and now Michael is the one encouraging other associates to sign up to volunteer with the Blue Crew.
He said, “I tell people, ‘Don’t think about it, just do it. Get out and volunteer.'”
While giving back to the community is a reward in itself, Michael believes that volunteering can help boost your career experience by providing valuable professional development opportunities.
“It’s a great way to build and develop skills for the workplace,” he said. “My volunteer experience has definitely helped me in my new role.”
When Michael recently accepted a new position as an Account Support Representative in Sales, he realized how much volunteering had contributed to his success.
“Being in a new role brings new people and a whole set of different responsibilities into the mix, which can be overwhelming” he said. “My volunteer experience helped me build key skills that I was able to use to adjust and ultimately be successful in the position.”
Here are four skills that Michael gained from volunteering, which he believes helped him be successful at work:
“Volunteering is a win for everyone — the community, local organizations, and the volunteers,” Michael said.
With so many benefits to volunteering, what are you waiting for? Check out local volunteer opportunities near you. Whether you want to give back or are looking for professional development opportunities, volunteering offers something for everyone!
This article was originally published on IBX Insights.
Mother. Wife. TV junkie. Shopaholic. That’s me in a nutshell – outside of work. As a copywriter at IBX, I enjoy learning about the health and wellness topics that I write about and hope to incorporate more healthy habits into my daily life to give me the energy to keep up with my baby girl.
