Steve Hatfield wished he had a mentor program like Winning Futures in his high school when he was preparing for his next steps.
Now “Mentor of the Year,” Steve has been volunteering for six years with Winning Futures, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization that empowers youth to succeed through mentoring, strategic planning and workforce preparation.
“It’s not always easy to gain a student’s trust, but once I see the light in their eyes turn back on, I know we’re making progress,” says Steve, durability and stress lab technician and third-generation FCA US employee. “From there, I try to be an adult they can count on to help them achieve their goals, whatever they may be.”
Steve first mentored in 2012 after a leader at FCA US asked employees to consider volunteering their time with Winning Futures. Since then, he has dedicated more than 375 volunteer service hours helping more than 35 students become self-reliant, employable and productive adults at the Pontiac Academy for Excellence in Michigan.
His love for mentorship and teaching extends beyond Winning Futures. He regularly volunteers with the FCA Foundation-sponsored FIRST Robotics team Killer Bees out of Notre Dame Preparatory School and Wingspan out of Pontiac Academy for Excellence, both in Pontiac, Michigan.
To learn more about Winning Futures, visit the website at https://winningfutures.org or call (586) 298-8449.
About FCA Community Stories:
FCA Community explores the efforts of FCA US employees who see a need beyond the walls of their work sites and devote energy outside their daily job to be a source of comfort and a force for change.
