Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
CASH grad mentors students at alma mater
Dawn Murray advises students as part of the Chester County Futures program
Dawn Murray mentored CASH students headed for college as part of the Chester County Futures program.
COATESVILLE >> Thanks in part to the benevolence of her employer, Coatesville Area Senior High School grad Dawn Murray is giving back to students at her alma mater.
On Tuesday, Murray mentored and advised three CASH students headed for college as part of the Chester County Futures program.
The assistant vice president for environmental sustainability met with a future psychologist, teacher and chemist, as part of Voya Financial’s fourth annual National Day of Service.
Voya allows all full-time employees to volunteer 40 hours per year on the clock. On Tuesday’s day of service, employees served at 200 locations nationwide.
Last year all of 336 local West Chester employees participated in the day of service.
Murray talked about the soonto-be graduates who took part in the four-year Chester County Futures program.
“They were so much more prepared than I was,” she said. “They are all articulate and can put their thoughts together. They clearly see an education as important.”
Chet Ragavan, Voya Chief Risk Officer, talked about the Chester County Futures Program.
“It helps the students get a footing on their way to college,” he said. “We provide a positive role model and a way to talk to a corporate executive.”
The program provides ongoing academic support, mentoring and scholarships for disadvantaged youth.
Students were given exit interviews. They were asked how the college acceptance process worked for them, as compared to their fellow students, for suggestions and to rank their preparedness for college.
They were coached on how to set goals and financial strategies, taught writing skills and about student aid.
Murray helped prepare lunches at Safe Harbor Shelter, Tuesday. Voya volunteers also staff Chester County Food Bank, Junior Achievement, Stroud Water Resource Center, Willistown Conservation Trust, and have set aside place to plant a vegetable garden for
distribution to the needy.
“Deploying volunteers across the country helps our workforce come together in a meaningful way to contribute to positive change in our communities,” said Rodney O. Martin Jr., Voya financial chairman and CEO.
Ragavan said that company-wide, 56 percent of employees volunteer for at least 40 hours per year through the Fortune 500 firm’s program. “With a vision to be America’s Retirement Company,” reads a company motto.
Ragavan cited four pillars of Voya corporate responsibility.
The company empowers its help, serves its clients, invests in communities and protects the environment.
“There’s no doubt this is one of the motivators that’s kept me here for 20 years,” Murray said. “It’s not just the company, it’s about the community we’re a part of.”