Celebrating National Philanthropy Day at Clearcover
Written by The Clearcover Team | 3 minute read
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” - Seneca
The Clearcover team is diverse with many interests and passions. We have a Product Owner who started his own tea company, a Customer Advocate who tours with his band in his free time, and a QA engineer who is an incredibly talented oil painter.
But volunteering is probably the area where our team excels the most. Every day, I learn about a new way that one of our team members is positively impacting lives. (We tend to hire people with big hearts at Clearcover.) So, in celebration of National Philanthropy Day, I asked a few of our team members to share more about their favorite causes:
Clearcover-er: Ovais S., Data Analyst
Organization: Saving 9
Mission: “Saving 9 aims to empower local communities in Pakistan to quickly address their own first aid emergency needs and respond to medical emergencies with utmost agility and care.”
Why help? “When I was at university in Pakistan, I was badly injured and a fellow student that had been medically trained helped me. The closest hospital was 40 minutes away by car. I saw the importance of readily available medical support—something lacking in most rural areas of Pakistan. This inspired me to found Saving 9 with the help of a few other college friends.”
Clearcover-er: Kenny P., Technical Recruiter
Organization: Special Olympics
Mission: “The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities”
Why help? “I have volunteered since high school. I'm a very lucky person to be given the opportunities that I was granted. My goal is always to help others achieve more in their life. I think it's important for people to give back.”
Clearcover-er: Dana P., Director of Growth Operations
Organization: YoungLife
Mission: “We invite kids to follow Christ, care for them regardless of their response, and change lives in the process.”
Why help? “I have chosen to volunteer with junior high kids for the past 8 years because 6-8th grade were the toughest years of my life. I had no friends, was trying to find my way in life and all I wanted was someone to tell me they loved me. I get to tell these kids every week that they are loved and that they are valuable. When the community supports and takes care of each other, we are better for it.”
Clearcover-er: Jack C., Senior Designer
Organization: World Relief Chicago
Mission: “World Relief Chicago is committed to the long-term integration of new neighbors (refugees) into our communities. By extending friendship and genuine belonging, we create connections that transform their lives and ours.”
Why help? “We have a saying: no matter what culture you're from, people are people. It's super rewarding to connect with someone from a completely different background, discover all sorts of meaningful connections and values, then celebrate the unique things that make us different. Our entire family is involved—this isn't just an adult thing. Our kids have friendships with these refugee kids and have therefore been educated in both the harshness of life as well as the beauty of loving one another. Volunteering started as helping ‘them’—but soon ‘them’ became a reciprocal ‘us.’”
Clearcover-er: Loren V., Software Engineer
Organization: Midwest Access Coalition
Mission: “Provide transportation for women to their important healthcare appointments because it’s a woman’s right to decide how to care for her body.”
Why help? “Volunteering is a passion of mine. When I volunteer, it's like I've found a new family of peers who are into the same things. I feel like I am part of something greater that is able to make a difference, and gives me hope for a better future.”
Clearcover-er: Monica F., QA Manager
Organization: Tutoring Chicago
Mission: “Tutoring Chicago offers free 1:1 tutoring services to economically disadvantaged children in grades 1-6.”
Why help? “I like the idea of giving back to the community and enabling students to feel comfortable tackling new skills and growing the skills they are currently learning in school! As a self-taught engineer who learned the ropes through mentorship and tutoring, I know how valuable it can be to have someone sit down with you when working through difficult problems.”
Clearcover-er: Heidi Craun, Head of Customer Advocacy
Organization: Intermitten
Mission: “Intermitten is a conference for those who want to innovate for the greater good; inspire diversity, community, and collaboration within their spheres of influence; and foster a community of progressive, equitable changemakers.”
Why help? “I'm a first-generation college graduate. The startup/tech industry has afforded me a lifestyle that is very unlike the one I grew up with. I'm passionate about doing my part to make sure that others have access to the same opportunities. And I want to ensure that tech is a positive force in communities everywhere.”
Interested in working with a team of like-minded peers who care about the world around them? Join the Clearcover team! >> Learn more about our open positions.
