The Well was honored to receive a generous donation from civil engineering firm Pape-Dawson as part of the company’s efforts to “give back.” We recently talked with Andrew Finney, a land planner at Pape-Dawson, about his experience volunteering at the Well and why he chose to nominate the Well Community to benefit from his employer’s charitable foundation.
How did you first hear about the Well Community?
As a grad student, I was working out of a local co-working space and looking for a place to serve in my community. The folks at Track 15 (a consulting agency) mentioned the Well Community, and it was literally just down the street from my apartment at the time.
What prompted you to volunteer?
Before moving to Dallas, I had volunteered with my local church’s homeless ministry for almost six years in Houston. One of the challenges we often encountered at that ministry was the fact that many of the people we served and encountered were struggling with mental illness, and we really did not know how to help these specific individuals other than to try and make them feel welcome and to help meet their physical needs. So when I heard that there was a place just down the street that was specifically addressing the needs of those struggling with mental illness in my own neighborhood, I was very interested to see what they were doing differently!
What has your experience at the Well been like?
When I was in middle school, I was really awkward and felt like I just did not fit in—like I was stuck in the margins. And it wasn’t until high school that this changed, when I joined my high school’s marching band. It was such a game-changer for me because my peers and instructors understood what made me tick and saw potential in me that I didn’t. And I really began to flourish and grow because I was no longer trying to conform to other people’s idea of “normal” or “success” and instead started to grow into the fullness of who I was.
What I learned during my four years in band was that God has wired me with a unique temperament and skillsets to fulfill a specific purpose. My peers and instructors both nurtured and challenged me to grow into this purpose. When I stepped into a Thursday night [worship service] at the Well Community for the first time, I immediately recognized that this was playing a similar role for people in my community struggling with mental illness. And I just couldn’t get enough.
Has anything surprised you about volunteering at the Well or about Well Community members?
My experience at the Well has been full of pleasant surprises, mainly concerning the people—both the members and the volunteers.
The most inspiring surprise has been seeing members whom I recognized from my own neighborhood. When I normally encountered them, they were avoidant and disengaged, but at The Well, their true personalities were on full display as they actively engaged with one another.
I’ve also been impressed by the unexpected diversity and dedication of the volunteers. On Thursday nights, groups from all over the metroplex—from church groups and neighborhood associations to book clubs—arrive to cook dinner for the members. The volunteers themselves are just as diverse: religious people and atheists, construction workers and entrepreneurs—it seems people from every walk of life recognize the value of the Well’s work.
Perhaps the most impactful surprise was witnessing the total absence of stigma. The first time I saw one of the members have an episode due to Tourette Syndrome, I was the only person in the room who seemed to notice. I was the one out of place when I rushed over to [Well Community Executive Director] Alice, offering to call 911. She simply and calmly explained that he was just having an episode and was perfectly fine. That moment taught me a profound lesson about acceptance and composure.
Why did you decide to get your employer, Pape Dawson, involved in coming alongside the Well? What has that looked like?
My company has a charitable foundation that donates funds to a local charity every year. Each office has a volunteer council that helps to organize our August fundraising events, where we motivate our coworkers to raise money in the form of contribution pledges, meals, snacks and friendly “pay to play” competitions. The following spring each volunteer council nominates local nonprofits for the office to vote on, and after a rigorous vetting process, ballots go out with several local nonprofits that the entire office selects from. Being someone that has always been inclined toward community service, I applied to the volunteer council this year. The Well is one of the most memorable organizations that I have ever served with, so I naturally nominated them.
What would you want others who are considering volunteering at the Well to know?
Humility is the active ingredient that fuels the magic of transformation you will witness at the Well. So come with a spirit of humility, and your eyes will be amazed at what they see.
Does your company have programs to donate to nonprofits or employee matching grants? Consider promoting the Well Community. Contact us for more information.
The Well Community is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.