Volunteer helps secure $5,000 Citigroup gift

Some of Samaritan House’s many supporters donate their time while others give financial assistance. Stephen used his time and connections to help raise far more money than he might be able to donate on his own.

A Senior Client Relations Specialist for CitiFinancial’s automotive division, Stephen was inspired by a visit that Samaritan House President Steve Dutton made to his church, appealing for community support. “Because of Steve’s passion for what he was speaking about,” says Stephen, “I decided take a closer look at what I could do as an individual. I looked at resources I have at work and what advantages come along with being a CitiFinancial Auto employee to find (a) grant opportunity for Samaritan House.”

The result: CitiFinancial Auto awarded a $5,000 check to Samaritan House in August, thanks in large part to Stephen’s diligent advocacy for the organization’s mission.

Stephen’s discovery of the grant opportunity came along accidentally following his first meeting with Mr. Dutton, he says. “I was looking on our intranet site for volunteer opportunities and how to track our time using our volunteer tracking site,” he explains. “In the search for these, I found the grant request program and decided to invite Samaritan House to apply.”

Samaritan House’s staff worked with Stephen to develop the necessary request materials for the application, and notice of the $5,000 gift came within two months. Stephen and his manager, Karen Green, toured the new facilities during a recent award ceremony.

Empowering the House’s residents to pursue the skills they require to regain self-sufficiency is an important goal shared by CitiFinancial staff. “I believe that the HIV/AIDS epidemic does not have to mean that an individual can not be a productive member of society,” says Stephen, following his first visit to The Villages at Samaritan House. “It is so important to help people access the resources to meet their dream of becoming self-sufficient.”

Stephen sees his local branch’s financial gift as only the beginning of a longer-term relationship. It is his hope that the connection made through the experience will inspire his associates to join him in future volunteer projects. “As employees of Citigroup,” says Stephen, “we felt very proud to meet Steve and others at Samaritan House and see the good work they are doing. We also feel privileged to be part of an organization that cares about community (and improving) the lives of others.”

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