Greg Dunne is the head of Ready to Succeed’s Young Leadership Council. He’s an Associate at Colliers International, and a graduate of Santa Clara University.  He shares his experience with Ready to Succeed so far, and how little gestures go a long way.

How long have you been involved and what’s your favorite part about volunteering with Ready to Succeed (RTS)?

I joined RTS a year ago, and it has been an extraordinary experience. What I find most impressive about RTS is its people. Everyone involved in this organization strives to make an impact. This dedication is why RTS has such a foolproof strategy, resulting in more Scholars graduating every year.

The program fosters lifelong relationships, and we share in the Scholars’ successes. I’ve learned a lot in a short time, and look forward to the years to come.

If you’ve been mentoring a Scholar could you talk about how you have seen them grow?

I was fortunate to get paired with a Scholar, Leslie, almost immediately after joining RTS. We hit it off right away, and it was evident that this scholar possessed tremendous potential.

She is organized and determined, and we maintained excellent momentum. I could guide Leslie in a similar way to how I was once guided at her age. She was aware of their strengths and quite transparent about her weaknesses. We developed a strategy around those areas. In the end, Leslie secured a great job at Ednovate right after their graduation. It was incredibly gratifying to have played a small part in ther success.

Has volunteering with RTS impacted your life? If so, how?

Absolutely! I had a fortunate upbringing with a supportive family. My experience with RTS opened my eyes to the challenges many Scholars face, lacking the guidance and resources I took for granted.

There might not be anyone at home reminding them to do their homework, pack a lunch, buy textbooks, or arrive at school on time. They have to navigate things on their own, which is not fair. There are times in every young person’s life when they need a supportive adult or mentor.

After joining RTS, I realized how much I could assist these scholars. Simple, everyday things like a call or email make a big difference. I met with my Scholar mentee once a week, and it felt good to help.

What advice would you have from someone looking to volunteer with RTS?

Go for it! RTS makes the program accessible to all. Our Young Leadership Committee has grown from 3 to nearly 20 members. RTS offers various volunteer opportunities, and they keep getting better each year.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Sign up here.