A group of passionate Boosters volunteered yesterday at San Francisco’s GLIDE, a comprehensive provider of innovative programs and services for the poor and marginalized. We sat down with Chartboost Volunteer Club lead Remi Spector to chat about Chartboost’s initiative to become more involved with the local community, and her personal experience.
What does the Chartboost Volunteer Club do, and how do you choose what organizations to volunteer for?
Remi Spector: The Volunteer Club dedicates three or four hours a month to supporting nonprofit organizations that are important to members of the Chartboost team. I asked members to submit organizations they already work with or donate to as a first step in deciding who to volunteer with. It’s also important to me that we support organizations right in our neighborhood. Since moving to our new San Francisco office on the border of Union Square and the Tenderloin, we’ve discovered a new community that’s really different from SoMa. This neighborhood has a lot of individuals who need extra support, and fortunately, there are a lot of community resources who can use our help. Most recently we’ve volunteered with GLIDE–a resource center just around the corner from us.
Could you tell us a little bit about GLIDE?
RS: GLIDE is a resource center in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, which helps all members of the community by providing health care, food, shelter and support to individuals and families. It’s a staple in the community, and I’ve always viewed it as a place of compassion and acceptance for those in need.
What did the volunteer group do with GLIDE recently?
This morning [September 25], a group of 20 of us served breakfast to more than 700 individuals and families. I personally delivered trays of food to those with disabilities and families, but we all had different responsibilities. Some of our team worked to prep the food, while others were in charge of bussing and cleanup.
Why did you decide to form the volunteer group and what’s been your favorite part so far?
RS: Chartboost recently rolled out Chartboost Clubs, which is an employee program that aims to empower Boosters to educate, inspire and connect outside of the office. We’ve formed a lot of different clubs, from Crafts & DIY to the Marathon Club (swimming, cycling, running), but I wanted to focus on the community. I think it’s easy to get stuck in our own little world. The gaming community is so passionate and tight knit that I think we often forget about the bigger community we live in. Here at Chartboost, we’re lucky to have so many benefits and support and I feel very fortunate to work for a company that takes such good care of their employees. I thought it was time for the CB employees to take care of their community. I really feel like it’s our responsibility to give our time and money to organizations that are making the Bay Area a better place.
So far, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know some of the people these groups serve. Living in San Francisco, I see a lot of homeless throughout my day and I rarely stop and talk with them. It was really nice to just chat with a few families. It makes me feel more connected to this neighborhood and the people around me. An added bonus is that I get to spend time with my coworkers doing something fun and meaningful–it helps put everything in perspective.
And another favorite moment of mine was a story from fellow Booster, Richard Dietrich. I’ll just let Richard tell his touching moment…
Richard Dietrich: There aren’t many moments in life that stop you dead in your tracks and make you appreciate how fortunate you are. This morning [September 25], I was having a conversation with a gentlemen who was eating food at GLIDE. He saw my SF Giants hat and asked if they beat the [Los Angeles] Dodgers last night. Though he was upset we lost to the Dodgers, he was delighted to learn we would still be making the playoffs. Toward the end of our conversation, he stopped mid-sentence, and said under his breath, “That’s my brother…,” repeating it over and over until he finally exclaimed, “That”s my brother! I haven’t seen him in 10 years!”
He began yelling across the room, but the man didn’t hear him until he was nudged. The man from across the room instantly recognized who was yelling at him–his brother. They met in the back of the room with the biggest, most sincere hug I’ve ever witnessed. Not a word was spoken for a few minutes–just two brothers weeping. I later learned that they hadn’t seen each other in 10 years and had lost all contact over five years ago. Neither had any idea the other was living in San Francisco. They were able to exchange information and the rest is history.
This was a profound moment that I will not soon forget.
What other types of organizations has the volunteer group worked with?
RS: We’ve also worked with the SF-Marin Food Bank sorting food, San Francisco Recreation & Parks planting trees, and are planning a lot of events around the holidays!
We’d like to give a big thanks to GLIDE for allowing us to volunteer, and to Remi and Richard for taking the time to sit down and chat about their experiences. #ChartboostCares