Employees making a difference
Our employees are making a difference in communities around the world by turning purpose into action.
Through the support of the State Street Foundation and partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, employees contribute their time, talents, and leadership to address pressing community needs. From expanding access to food and employment opportunities to reducing social isolation and strengthening human connection, their efforts demonstrate the power of collective action. The stories below highlight how employee volunteers are creating meaningful impact — and helping build stronger, more resilient communities.
Explore their stories and see how individual actions can inspire lasting change.
Turning individual action into collective impact
Ellen Kek
Melbourne, Australia
“Whether it's supporting local charities or employee-led initiatives, I've been fortunate to volunteer alongside colleagues who share a genuine commitment to making a difference.”
Across our global network, employees bring our purpose to life through meaningful volunteer engagement — and few exemplify this standard more fully than Ellen. For her, volunteering is about more than giving time — it’s about bringing people together, supporting one another, and making a meaningful difference in the community.
Based in Melbourne, Ellen has demonstrated how combining hands-on service with leadership can create lasting community impact. Through initiatives with Foodbank Victoria, Our Village, and other community-focused programs, she has supported families and individuals facing hardship — helping deliver thousands of meals and distribute essential goods at critical moments.
Ellen’s impact extends well beyond her individual contributions. As a member of State Street’s Corporate Citizenship Council — a local, employee-led volunteer group that partners with community organizations — she plays a key role in mobilizing colleagues throughout her office. By amplifying volunteer opportunities, encouraging participation, and creating pathways to get involved, she has helped foster a culture where giving back is visible, accessible, and part of who we are.
Her story shows how individual action can grow into something much greater. By combining service with leadership, Ellen is helping to strengthen communities while building a shared culture of giving — creating a ripple effect of connection, purpose, and lasting impact.
Creating opportunity through care
Magdalena Urbaczek
Krakow, Poland
“I believe that life is a journey of continuous learning and development, and that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow and reach their full potential.”
In Krakow, Magdalena (Magda) is helping others build meaningful pathways to employment.
Known for her compassion and dedication, Magda serves as a volunteer leader and inclusion advocate with the Helping Hand program — a free, online initiative designed to support individuals facing barriers to employment. Through the program, participants develop practical skills and confidence to navigate today’s evolving job market.
Magda’s impact is evident not only in what she does, but in how she does it. She has played an instrumental role in growing the program year after year — building connections with participants, mentoring individuals, and supporting a network of more than 70 employee volunteers. Her approach ensures that every interaction is respectful, inclusive, and tailored to meet people where they are.
Magda’s work stands out for her ability to build lasting impact by uniting nonprofit partners, local institutions, and colleagues into a strong support system that creates meaningful service opportunities. Through her leadership, she fosters an environment where people feel supported, valued, and confident — transforming care into sustained progress and possibility.
Building connection across generations
Robert Lefkowitz
Clifton, New Jersey
“I’ve been inspired to volunteer at Conversations to Remember by the gratitude that I see from the many seniors we’re helping … It is wonderful that State Street supports this in so many ways.”
During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert asked a simple but powerful question: How can we help older adults feel less alone? That question became the start of something much larger.
Based in Clifton, Robert helped launch a volunteer program, Conversations to Remember, that connects older adults with college students for meaningful conversations. Through weekly video visits, the program brings companionship to seniors while helping young volunteers build empathy and understanding across generations.
What distinguishes this effort is how Robert brought it to life — and built it to last. Drawing on his professional expertise, he established the structure, training, and systems needed to sustain and scale the program. As a result, it continues to connect people in a meaningful, enduring way.
Robert remains deeply involved in the program’s success. Over the past year, he has dedicated significant time to training volunteers, mentoring students, and helping ensure that these connections continue. The impact is both measurable and deeply personal: Thousands of volunteers have participated, more than 10,000 visits have been completed, and countless individuals have felt less alone because someone took the time to connect.
Robert’s story shows how a simple idea, combined with care and commitment, can grow into something that strengthens communities and creates lasting human connection.