In-kind Donations for Non-Profits | St. Vincent de Paul Phoenix, Arizona

Business skills and private experiences mix to rally relieve for Arizona's homeless.

Steve Zabilski got the entrepreneurial strong desire as a kid whereas caddying Sundays for his father at the native golf course in Los Angeles.

"My father would offer me a greenback at the tip of each spherical," explains Steve. "I loved it, not simply for the chance to make money, however mainly for the standard time with my dad."

By age eleven, once a couple years of caddying for his father, Steve realized there was an additional golf course down the road he may bike to and caddy for alternative golfers. Instead of a modest greenback from pricey old dad, he'd earn up to 10 dollars a spherical from his clients.

"It absolutely was my 1st real job," he continues. "I liked that I was progressing financially. I opened my initial bank account and would build deposits on my way home from the golf course."

He notes a clear difference from helping his father and the other golfers, one that resonates in his work nowadays as executive director for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Phoenix, a global nonprofit organization founded over a hundred seventy five years ago in Paris, France.

"Caddying for money was great, but it absolutely was simply a job. Being on the golf course with my father was entirely different. I respected him and when I was with him the money didn't matter. While I respected the opposite golfers too, it wasn't the same as the bond between a father and his son."

Fast forward through Steve's college years at California State University - Northridge, and across fifteen years of combined work for KPMG Peat Marwick, an international CPA firm, and Transamerica, a giant insurance company, and we notice Steve still going strong having now served 13 years for St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix.

"I loved each day of my company business experiences," says Steve, "however with St. Vincent de Paul I feel I'm back to doing one thing I really like even more. It's definitely not for the money. I don't suppose of it as a job, therefore abundant as a mission. This is often who I am and what I'm meant to be doing. These days, I feel like I'm caddying for my father again, not simply working at the country club. This can be a sense several of our volunteers can relate to as well. They're doing what they are called to try and do, where their hearts lead them, and in the method they're creating a difference every day for central and northern Arizona's homeless and operating poor."

That difference is vital, particularly considering the breadth of services the Society provides in Arizona.

The Phoenix operations of St. Vincent de Paul span central and northern regions of the state where Steve and his team of 200 staff organize and empower approximately 16,000 volunteers who help employees 5 charity dining rooms along with medical and dental clinics that provide essential living services for the homeless and folks in need. St. Vincent de Paul also operates a food reclamation center, a homeless outreach ministry that provides counseling and job help, twelve thrift stores, a homeless shelter, and abundant more.

Although Steve's efforts have been recognized with community awards as well as the United Way Chisolm Award and the Phoenix Community Alliance Center's Town Star Award, his razor-sharp purview of charitable funds collected by St. Vincent de Paul is presumably the most impressive accomplishment. More than ninety cents of every dollar donated to SVdP goes towards funding programs and services for the homeless and operating poor. Steve is fast to credit the organization, staff and volunteers for this

"This isn't a corporation that people send cash to, simply to have it randomly dispersed. St. Vincent de Paul is volunteer-driven, and essentially facilitates how volunteers from at intervals the community will place their energy and talents to sensible use on our campuses. I think this approach makes us different from alternative nonprofit organizations - though we naturally applaud the efforts of all organizations that serve needy adults, families and children through their chosen methods."

Steve insists that volunteers and financial supporters feel ownership in St. Vincent de Paul. "This isn't guilt-driven volunteerism. It's driven by people and passion."

Of course, once initial expressing a lot of appreciation for the Society's Arizona and international staff, he explains that the organization makes a concerted effort to keep his employees to a minimum since its focus is clearly on volunteerism.

"If somebody walked in and said ‘I'll offer you a billion dollars to set up an endowment therefore you don't should constantly recruit and train volunteers,' we have a tendency to wouldn't take the money. Would we have a tendency to take it for funding our programs? Fully! However we have a tendency to wouldn't settle for it if it absolutely was solely to hire a lot of staff at the expense of our volunteers."

It's this sense of the community that permits St. Vincent de Paul to thrive in Arizona.

Steve describes the Bigger Phoenix space, the state's fifth largest city, as an area that gives all the opportunities of a big town (education, business community, sports, museums, outside activities, etc) however with a hometown feel and culture that helps him get to know local volunteers, donors, business individuals and also the media higher than he might elsewhere.

"I don't apprehend if I might facilitate secure as many essential business relationships and funds for St. Vincent de Paul if I lived in another town," he says.

"I am lucky to grasp many executives and individuals from our local business, sports and media industries on a 1st name basis. My counterparts in other cities are amazed that I will call Bishop Olmstead or the Arizona Diamondbacks and get an answer right away. This simply proves that we're a community of individuals who really care, comprised of folks representing all walks of life."

And with that, Steve is quite content and honored that he gets to bring people to St. Vincent de Paul campuses, introduce them around, and show them how volunteering and donating can enrich their lives , in addition to those of their families and businesses, while helping people in central and northern Arizona who would like assistance.

"To determine it all unfold; to work out a family give up their evening to serve alternative families in our dining hall; and to work out the thrill individuals expertise whereas helping others, it's such a special blessing. I don't suppose I might experience it quite like this anywhere else."


Steve Zabilski served as the executive director of St. Vincent de Paul where I have been responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Society's 200 employees and 7,000 volunteers and $25 million annual budget. Through Steve's college years at California State University - Northridge, and across 15 years of combined work for KPMG Peat Marwick, an international CPA firm, and Transamerica, a large insurance company, and we find Steve still going strong having now served 13 years for St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix.