We Can All Be Superheroes
I believe in superpowers. And while ordinary people may not possess abilities to fly or crush rocks with their hands, every day we each have the power to make one person’s world, or the entire world, better.
As a corporate social responsibility professional, and the leader of the team at Fannie Mae that is dedicated to harnessing the power of our people to volunteer and help tackle such pressing issues as the lack of affordable housing, and the need for more sustainable and resilient communities in the United States, I can attest to the immense power of volunteer service.
The smiles of children in a shelter grateful for the time my colleagues spent reading them a story, or the mother who hugged me with tears in her eyes when I handed her a pack of diapers, or the man who told me that my colleagues and I were the angels he prayed for when we came to rebuild his home after Hurricane Harvey, are all proof of the power of volunteer service to ignite a passion in you, as it did in me. It will change your life forever—and for the better.
Some call the feeling that comes from giving back the “givers glow” and others have called it the “helpers high.” No matter how you label it, there is no denying that volunteering is good for you, and that it can improve your life as much as the lives of those you help. Studies have shown that volunteers are happier and healthier, with a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in their day-to-day lives. Even if you only have a little time to give, volunteering can reward you with a sense of purpose that comes from knowing that you are using your precious time to bring about positive change in the world.
With so many people in need of a helping hand, so many challenges to overcome, and countless playing fields to be leveled, we need superheroes in our communities now more than ever.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your cape, get out there today and volunteer…you never know, it just might ignite the superhero in you too.
