Chimers Chime In: Why I Volunteer
At Chime, we live our company values on a daily basis. One way Chimers put them into practice is by volunteering for causes that matter to them. In particular, volunteering focuses on our values of “Team up” and “Be human.” As a mission-driven company, we encourage all employees to give back to organizations and causes they are passionate about.
In honor of International Volunteer Day, we’d like to highlight several Chimers who have gone above and beyond in their giving back and the nonprofits that matter to them. Here’s a look at how volunteering — and nonprofits who make those opportunities possible — help make our world a better place.
E-Shawn Baxter (he/him) | Chimer since March 2021 | Member of the Risk Team
E-Shawn’s grandmother had a big influence on his upbringing: “Anything she had, she gave part of away to someone else, whether it was food, childcare, or financial resources,” he explains. “She shaped my outlook and motivated me to want to give back.” Coupled with his experience going to church as a kid, which gave him a sense of community, E-Shawn has always been involved as a volunteer in the communities he’s a part of.
Nowadays, E-Shawn volunteers for two organizations, Higher Achievement and The READ Center (Reading Education and Adult Development).
Higher Achievement provides support and resources to historically excluded groups to help them develop the character, confidence, and skills to attend college after middle and high school. In his role as a volunteer, E-Shawn acts as a mentor to students and acts as an adult outside of their home, providing different perspectives and an additional role model to look up to. “I’ve been in the shoes of many of the students I work with, so I’d like to help them have a positive experience in what can be a stretch of difficult years,” he says. “Mentors and role models are so important during such formative years and nothing makes me happier than to see my students in the community achieving great things.”
The READ Center helps adults achieve literacy, basic math, and digital skills by providing one-on-one teaching, mentorship, and classes. E-Shawn supports the free program as part of the board, bringing in financial resources and governing guidance to the organization.
“My Chime colleagues probably don’t know how much I volunteer, but if you look at my calendar, I have time on Tuesdays and Thursdays blocked off to stay involved with my community,” he says.
If you’re looking to get started volunteering, E-Shawn recommends finding a cause that is important and local to you and then making an ongoing commitment. “If you love animals, try an animal shelter, or if you enjoy working with kids, join a mentorship program,” he says. “Giving back to causes that matter to me gives me a sense of pride,” he adds.
Maia Bittner (she/her) | Chimer since August 2018 | Voice of the Member team
Maia Bittner was a member of the fifth graduating class at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, where she studied cognitive science and software engineering with a focus on teamwork, communication, and designing solutions for the good of the world. Since graduating, she has jumped into the Silicon Valley startup world and landed at Chime by selling her most recent company, Pinch, to Chime in 2018.
As an Olin alum, she created an investment group for other alumni to invest in Olin-founded companies called Parcel B and provided 20% of the return on the investments to the college itself. “We use career success to help fund the college and bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and Olin so that students have access to resources, a network, and career opportunities.” She volunteers as a member of the Board of Trustees at the college, supporting her alma mater through various channels, including the Finance and Facilities committee.
Her interest in and dedication to the community and social impact are also why she loves working at Chime: “Our product supports so many people and provides them with the ability to live a new life with our products,” she explains.
For new volunteers, Maia recommends focusing on what you like first: “I loved the library, so I started volunteering there first as a child and then got more involved in other causes,” she explains. “Your volunteer experience is entirely yours to craft, so take note of what fulfills you and what an organization needs, and you’ll likely end up working on something meaningful for all involved.”
Matthew Fanciullo (he/him) | Chimer since February 2020 | Member of the Financial Crimes division of the Risk team
“In the past, I’d have to hide the time I was taking to volunteer if it was during the day,” explains Mathew (Mat). “At Chime, my manager is more than happy for me to volunteer during the workday and I mark my time on the calendar so other colleagues can see, too.”
When he joined Chime, Mat noticed CoachArt on the Chime Gives Back portal, which helps support our 1% Pledge and empowers Chimers to find meaningful causes to get involved with.
CoachArt helps kids with disabilities or who are experiencing hardships to engage in artistic activities. “I played in bands for many years and loved my experience with music — volunteering with CoachArt was a great way to get back into music,” he explains. In his role as a volunteer, he helps two students learn to play music through lessons he prepares and teaches. “After our lessons, we spend 30–40 minutes talking about life and sharing our thoughts and ideas,” he says. “For one of my students, who is 12 years old and going through chemotherapy, music is a nice way to take his mind off things and learn a new skill — for me, it’s a way to connect with my passion for music and contribute to a meaningful cause.”
Mat also volunteers with Back on My Feet, an organization that combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources.
And since joining Chime, he’s designed several virtual volunteer activities for his team to participate in volunteerism with him.
Though the pandemic forced many Chimers’ favorite volunteer activities to shift from in-person to virtual, we remain focused on supporting Chimers in their choice to give back. Now, more than ever, nonprofits need support and resources to help reach their communities and affect change. We’re proud to have E-Shawn, Maia, and Mat at Chime to inspire more Chimers and our community members to get involved.
For more information on where and how you can volunteer, visit VolunteerMatch.
