Finding a Higher Purpose in Volunteering

Building a successful career feels great, but sometimes reaching out and helping someone else feels even better.

BY ROXANNE CHOW, CPA

When I was a kid, I assumed my purpose-driven life would include all the “normal” milestones: graduating high school, going to college, getting a good job, getting married, and having a family But as I’ve aged like a fine wine, I’ve come to realize that I wanted a higher purpose than just hitting those milestones and I feel like I’ve discovered that greater purpose in my volunteer work

I started volunteering with Ladder Up when friends of mine who were on Ladder Up’s Associates Board invited me to check it out They told me that Ladder Up is a Chicago non-profit organization that provides financial education and resources to low-income individuals and families My friends encouraged me to volunteer for the Tax Assistance Program (TAP), which provides free tax preparation services from late January through April 15 every year

At first, I was nervous I’d done my own taxes before, but what was I doing pretending to be a tax expert for other people? Sure, I have a CPA, but I went into audit and then accounting advisory, certainly not individual taxes by any stretch of the imagination

But I went My first client was a single 19-year-old woman with one W-2 I thought, perfect I can do this Then my second clients were a married couple with three kids, who were half watching cartoons on mom ’ s phone and half annoyed to sit still in a strange place for an hour and a half They were immigrants from Mexico and spoke little English but were very warm and friendly The dad worked full time and the mom was a homemaker; they made $35,000 in total for the year I went through their paperwork and got to work, entering their information into the software and asking them a series of questions their 12-year-old helped translate As I wrapped up and looked at their 1040, I saw that they were going to get a refund of $8,500 When the quality review volunteer and I told them that number, the mom started crying and the parents both jumped up to hug us

This was when I knew that I wanted to make volunteering a regular part of my life It was an indescribable feeling to feel immense gratitude from these strangers and see the impact that you can have on another person ’ s life from spending just 45 minutes with them I have spent the past seven tax seasons volunteering as a tax preparer for Ladder Up, and it has been and continues to be one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life

So many people in this country don’t have the same access to financial education and resources as I did, and it creates a massive economic gap starting from birth that grows exponentially into adulthood This is why I volunteer with organizations like Ladder Up that help provide the resources needed to shrink that gap and give people the means to build better lives I can’t solve all these issues on my own, but I can lead a purpose-driven life, one volunteer session at a time

At age 11, superhero-loving Dorri McWhorter decided she wanted to become an accountant, and despite all she has accomplished throughout her career, she’ll tell you that her passion and energy haven’t changed much since then Maybe that’s a good thing Not every Illinois CPA Society chairperson kicks off their term amid a pandemic that limits their ability to engage with members And not every chairperson steps in during social and political movements that are impacting the business world on so many levels But the unintentional timing of the Society appointing its first Black chairperson is perfect in hindsight, especially when you consider she’s still a true believer in superheroes and the justice and good they stand for

You call CPAs the superheroes of business In a year disrupted by COVID-19, economic uncertainty, and important social and political movements, superheroes are surely needed. What opportunities are you seeing for CPAs to step into this superhero role and influence positive change in the business world?

Right now, there is so much disruption and uncertainty Because CPAs are trusted, they have an opportunity to build upon that trust and provide their strategic insights about how businesses can recover Bottom line, CPAs are well-positioned to support that recovery and growth

Achieving racial and gender equity is the YWCA’s mission, but it’s also a personal passion of yours. How can business leaders ensure any initiatives their organizations put forth on these issues are meaningful and have staying power?

Business leaders have the opportunity to lean into this moment and recognize there’s a combination of crises that have converged Intention matters When tackling these tough issues, leaders must begin with the end in mind It’s not about just reacting to the moment; having a solution orientation provides the basis to create a truly sustainable response

Can you tell us a bit more about the YWCA’s new Until Justice Just Is campaign?