T. Rowe Price Associates Make a Difference in Children’s Lives During National Mentoring Month and Beyond

While January is National Mentoring Month, T. Rowe Price associates around the world volunteer year-round to mentor and support children.

“We’re always looking for solutions that improve outcomes for youth and enrich community life,” says Sandra Van Vloten-McGraw in T. Rowe Price’s Corporate Social Responsibility department. “Mentoring achieves both, and it’s great to see the positive impact these programs have on the kids.”

ELBA: Apprenticeship in London

In London, students from the University of East London participate in an apprenticeship at T. Rowe Price for 12 to 18 months to help develop their professional skills.

To facilitate the program, the firm partners with the East London Business Alliance (ELBA), an organization that focuses on education, local employment, and improving business skills in the East London community.

The apprenticeship program allows students to see what it is like to work in various departments within an investment management company. Neelan Santhirarajah in the Portfolio Modeling Group provides his apprentice with an independent viewpoint. The two meet regularly to discuss projects and their work.

“The opportunity for the apprentices to get a firsthand view of what we do and work with the people we have here is priceless,” Neelan says. “Just being able to discuss and share experiences and ideas has been really good fun—and I’ve learned a lot too.”

The United Way: Manhood Day in Sydney

In Sydney, associates collaborated with The United Way to participate in structured workshops that focused on improving students’ self-esteem and social skills.

In November 2016, Relationship Manager Jared Watson and National Sales Manager Darren Hall participated in Manhood Day at South Sydney High School. The event connects male mentors with young men between the ages of 13 and 15 to talk in a comfortable and open environment about the issues and emotions that can accompany entering manhood.

“This was one of the best volunteering initiatives I have ever been involved with. It felt like we made a difference,” says Darren.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Beyond School Walls in Baltimore

T. Rowe Price also partners with Big Brother Big Sisters (BBBS)—an organization that matches children ages six through 18 (“Littles”) with adult volunteers (“Bigs”).

In 2016, BBBS of the Greater Chesapeake Area collaborated with T. Rowe Price’s Pratt Street office on a BBBS Beyond School Walls (BSW) program. Associates were paired with third graders from Baltimore’s Hampstead Hill Elementary School. Littles and Bigs get together twice a month at the firm’s headquarters for creative activities that encourage discussion and teamwork.

“Every session is different, but the most rewarding part is making a match and watching the relationship flourish over the course of a year,” says Lindsay Finch, Site Specialist for BBBS of the Great Chesapeake Area.

Shannon Cuffley, Senior Administrative Assistant, fell in love with the work of the organization when she began volunteering in 2008. Since then, Shannon has created relationships with five Littles.                                                     

“T. Rowe Price has given me an opportunity to do the volunteering I’ve always wanted to do,” Shannon says. 

During the BSW meet-up on January 24, Shannon and her Little crafted a decorative fish and challenged each other to see how many times they could write their names in 100 seconds.

“I try to be an adult friend for my little, not an authority figure. I want to make sure she sees a different, better way to think about situations in life,” Shannon says. “This is my way to have an influence on the younger generation.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentor 2.0 in Colorado Springs

In Colorado Springs, associates work with BBBS through a Mentor 2.0 program, which pairs Bigs with teen Littles from the time they enter high school until graduation. Through weekly online messages and monthly in-person group events, Bigs aim to help their Littles achieve academic success. Some of the students will be the first in their families to attend college.

“It’s really cool to have a real impact on someone,” says Steve Holzapfel, a supervisor in Retirement Plan Services. “I hope my Little sees that there are people out there who care about him—who care about his ability to succeed.”