Bringing Our Values to Life Through Volunteering

Rooted in Detroit, Giving Back for Good

Every April, National Volunteer Month gives us the chance to honor those who show up, not just to work, but to serve. For Eric Shumate, Executive Trainer at Rocket, that spirit runs deep. A lifelong Detroiter and graduate of the city’s public schools, Shumate has never stopped looking for ways to give back to the city that shaped him.

Top Five, No Doubt

This past weekend, Shumate stood alongside fellow Family of Companies volunteers at Detroit’s 40th annual Easter Fun Fest at the Lasky Recreation Center. The clouds hung low that afternoon, but it did not stop the crowd. “I turned my head twice, and boom—people everywhere,” Shumate recalled. “It was a sight to see.” To conclude National Volunteer Month, team members from the Family of Companies volunteered at the Easter Fun Fest.

The family-friendly festival, complete with carnival rides, pony rides, a petting zoo and a candy-colored Willy Wonka theme, has become a staple in Detroit’s spring calendar. Rocket proudly sponsored the mini-golf attraction, where Shumate spent the day helping kids learn to putt. “That course was legit,” he said with a grin. “I’m definitely going back.”

A golfer himself, Shumate lit up as he described showing kids how to hold the club, how to aim, how to focus. “It was gratifying. These are kids who might not otherwise have access to golf, and here they were—engaged, excited, focused. Just being kids.” For Shumate, this ranks in his top five volunteer experiences—no small praise from someone who has shoveled mulch, planted trees and cleaned up community gardens across the city.

A Connection That Runs Deep

Rocket’s role at Easter Fun Fest was more than symbolic. In addition to volunteers like Shumate staffing the event, Rocket sponsored the putt-putt golf course, ensuring it was free and accessible to all. But the connection to Lasky Recreation Center runs even deeper, thanks to the Gilbert Family Foundation’s ongoing commitment to building inclusive, thriving public spaces.

Through the Our Backyard Detroit initiative, the Foundation—alongside nonprofit partner Green Living Science—invests in local “Park Champions” who lead events, clean-ups and beautification efforts across eight Detroit parks, including Jayne-Lasky Park. It is hyperlocal stewardship with citywide impact, and it is helping transform green spaces into true community hubs.

Obsessed With Finding A Better Way

For Shumate, the mission is personal. “I always wondered—how does what’s happening downtown translate into the neighborhoods?” he said. Volunteering has been his answer. Whether it was helping a local schoolteacher maintain a community garden on the east side or handing out prizes to smiling kids at Lasky, Shumate sees the work as a responsibility. “If I can touch one life, help one person see what’s possible, that’s what I’m here for.”

He lives by the ISM “You’ll See it When You Believe It,” and says that Rocket’s culture gave him the platform to live that principle beyond the walls of the office. “From the moment I came to Rocket, volunteering was just part of the rhythm,” he said. “It was not an extra. It was expected.”

Putting People First

Six years into his role at Rocket, Shumate has seen how that client-first mindset translates seamlessly to community work. “Whether it is a teammate or a third grader picking up a golf club for the first time, the mission is the same—be there, be all in, give your best.”

That approach shows up across the Family of Companies. Whether it is the Rocket Classic spotlighting youth golf programs or the Gilbert Family Foundation helping residents stay in their homes, the work is rooted in community, consistency and relentless follow-through. “We do a lot,” Shumate said. “But we do not brag about it enough, and we should!”

Saying Yes to Volunteering

Back at Lasky, surrounded by families of every background, Shumate saw something beautiful take shape. “Chaldean, Bengali, Arab, Black, White—all of us were there,” he said. “It was a true American moment. No politics, no noise. Just joy.”

And sometimes, joy is enough. It builds bridges and levels the field. It gives a kid a club, a shot and a chance. If you are lucky, like Shumate, it gives you something even greater—the chance to say “yes” to your city, again and again.

Six years ago, Shumate came back to Rocket. Three years ago, he picked up a golf club for the first time. Last weekend, he showed a generation of Detroiters how to do the same. He has planted trees, lifted spirits and reminded everyone watching that when you combine passion with purpose, magic happens. National Volunteer Month may be only 30 days, but our volunteering is a daily occurrence. “It is not just about revitalizing downtown,” he said. “It is about revitalizing people. And we get to do that every day.”