Schwab Volunteer Week began in the San Francisco Bay Area nine years ago and has since expanded to 45 cities across the United States. So I think it's only fitting to end my photo tour of last week's volunteer action where so many people leave their hearts.

These three Bay Area projects illustrate the very different ways Schwab helps nonprofit agencies that seek to alleviate poverty and build financial capability. Sometimes we teach financial skills in school classrooms or at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. And sometimes we help others shape their financial futures with a paintbrush, a computer or a new suit.

Berkeley

You may have figured this out by now: Schwab Volunteer Week involves a lot of painting. But few of us look as good doing it as employee Mirana Yuen (at left), who was captured by photographer Erin Zeitler.

Following a lunch with clients of Berkeley Food & Housing, the Schwab volunteers helped paint and clean this residential house for formerly chronically homeless mental health clients. Schwab Bank President Paul Woolway pitched in as executive sponsor of the project.

San Francisco-Oceanview

Caden Gray stopped in at the IT Bookman Community Center in San Francisco to photograph Schwab employees helping senior citizens with computer skills. I love this photo because I personally identify with Doris Cheng (far right) who is so grateful to Schwabbie Gail Garvey for helping her with PowerPoint slides.

Um, Gail, do you have some PowerPoint tips for the rest of us?

Following the session, project leader Doug Meckelson received kudos from the clients, the volunteers and the Community Technology Network. “Every senior that I spoke with said they'd learned a lot and that the experience with Schwab volunteers made them want to take more computer classes or use their computers more, which was definitely our goal,” said Kerri Shannon of CTN.

San Francisco-Union Square

Cathleen Rigatti and Denise Cavanagh look like they could be shopping in Union Square on their lunch hour. But they were part of a team of volunteers at Dress for Success-San Francisco, including photographer (and Schwab Community Services employee) Leah Lau.

Schwab employees Cathleen Rigatti and Denise Cavanagh at Dress for Success-San Francisco	Dress for Success client Krishell admires the work outfit that Schwab volunteers helped her pick out.

 

 I love a good suit – and any nonprofit that helps women seek, land and keep a job. So Dress for Success, you might say, is tailor-made for me.

I dropped in with my camera and turned the tables on Leah as she helped a Dress for Success client work on her resume.

I was also fortunate to talk with two women who graciously shared their stories. Both Amanda and Krishnell were “second-suiters,” which means they had already landed a job with their first Dress for Success suit, and they were back to add to their work wardrobe before starting their new job.

Amanda was thrilled to get a position with the San Francisco Career Link Center, helping others search for a job. And she had plenty of good advice to pass along.

“Job candidates need to know how to present themselves properly,” Amanda said. “You even need to look good when you’re on the way to an interview. You could end up being interviewed by the person you sit next to on the bus. I know, because that happened to me.”

“Second-suiter” Krishell also learned to persevere. She had originally interviewed for an administrative position, but ended up with an even better job – and one that fit as well as her suit.

Both Amanda and Krishell plan to stay in touch with Dress for Success. Krishell has signed up to attend monthly networking meetings, and Amanda envisions working with job-seekers who are referred by the nonprofit.

Who knows? One day, Amanda may be that person on the bus, sitting next to a young woman on her way to a job interview.

See these and other Schwab Volunteer Week photos in the Image Gallery on our Community page. Journalists, bloggers and newsletter editors may download editorial photos using the “browse and download” link in our Press Room.
 

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