My family has always stressed the importance of giving back to those that have been less fortunate and may be in need. When I moved to Chicago 18 months ago, I wanted to find a way to make an immediate impact in the community where I lived and worked. One of my family members had served on his local United Way board and encouraged me to reach out to the organization here. In doing so, I stumbled upon the Young Leaders Society, signed up for a volunteer event, and the rest is history.
I continue to stay involved because I know our impact on the community is real, and the knowledge that I’ve been a part of that difference is truly rewarding. I’ve met some incredible people along the way and continue to learn from their stories. I’m currently a member of the Volunteer Committee and hope to expand my reach in the future. I think the thing I enjoy most about YLS involvement is the opportunity to work with other young professionals that share my values and want to make a difference in the community. The energy and enthusiasm for each YLS cause is infectious.
One of the most interesting experiences I have had with the United Way was the Give 5 Flash Mob event. The event was designed as a “public theater” event to help raise awareness about families in crisis in Chicago and draw attention to the United Way’s Give 5 campaign. Dozens of United Way volunteers simultaneously dropped their coats to reveal LIVE UNITED t-shirts and froze into living statues scattered throughout Daley Plaza. Flash Mob members struck a pose they found relevant to the cause and some grabbed signage with facts about families in crisis. It was one of my first experiences with the United Way and one that opened my eyes to the power of taking action.
A more recent YLS event that I enjoyed was when the Volunteer Committee partnered with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to host a Fresh Produce Day for families in the West Humboldt Park area. We worked closely with the Kelly Hall YMCA staff and a number of other volunteer groups to package and distribute fresh produce to local families who wouldn’t otherwise have access to these types of foods. The opportunity to interact with those community directly impacted by our efforts was incredibly rewarding. The knowledge that I was able to help those families was truly empowering for me.
I LIVE UNITED by challenging others to find a cause for which they’re passionate and encouraging them to be a part of the change.
Jason Mueller
JP Morgan Chase
& YLS Volunteer Committee Member
Terrific profile, Jason! Young Leaders Society is thrilled and lucky to have you involved with us. Thanks so much for stepping up and being a leader!