‘You become the CEO of you’: Finding meaning through volunteerism in retirement

Since retiring from Eli Lilly and Company in 2017 after 30 years, Denny Stephens has spent many hours volunteering with organizations including United Way of Central Indiana, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Indy Hunger Network, Bread for the World and IndyHumane.

As Denny Stephens neared retirement, he began thinking: What am I going to do to occupy my time? 

A dedicated volunteer, he then asked himself two more questions: What in the community am I concerned about? What makes me passionate about giving back to the community?  

He made a list of organizations with which he could volunteer and tried them out to find the right fit.  

Since retiring from Eli Lilly and Company in 2017 after 30 years, Stephens has spent many hours volunteering with organizations including United Way of Central Indiana, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Indy Hunger Network, Bread for the World and IndyHumane. And when he finds himself with a little extra time, he uses United Way’s volunteer portal – volunteercentralindiana.org – to try something new.  

Retirement can be scary – suddenly getting back all those hours once spent working. But Stephens tells people it’s OK to be a little scared. There is no right or wrong way of doing it.  

“There’s just your way of doing it,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to explore.”  

Stephens is a committee member with Always United, a United Way donor network that connects retirees – and those nearing retirement – to programs, events and volunteer opportunities in the community. The group provides free webinars and seminars on topics related to retirement, including sessions on Social Security, Medicare, downsizing, aging in place, retirement communities and how to get the most impact out of your philanthropic time and dollars. 

Stephens helped develop Always United’s retirement mapping program, which helps people transition into retirement from an emotional standpoint by providing tips and tricks on navigating the process. He leads a seminar on volunteer opportunities as part of that program.   

United Way recently spoke with him about volunteerism and how to get involved as retirement approaches.  

(This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)  

Why was United Way a nonprofit you were interested in supporting? What about United Way speaks to you?  

First of all, they’re embedded in the community. They had a boots-on-the-ground perspective. They knew what was going on.  

I didn’t have to try and find something to try and help – they were already there, working with the local population. These are Hoosiers helping Hoosiers.  

Are there certain philanthropic causes United Way is involved in that you’re particularly passionate about?  

Early childhood development is something that I think is very, very important. Also, because of my work on the Always United committee, helping people as they start to transition into retirement stay connected with the community.  

Are there United Way activities or events that have been especially meaningful for you?  

Over the last couple years, I’ve gotten involved in Go All IN Day, which gives you the opportunity to go to different organizations that you didn’t know about and be able to volunteer.  

At Changing Footprints, we sorted shoes to be sent to Ukraine. That one was very impactful. I didn’t know they existed, so it was a great opportunity to learn about them, and I’ve supported them since then. It was a social event as well – you got a chance to meet other people, talk to them and find out about their stories and why they were there.  

What do you personally take away from volunteerism?  

Seeing the impact that you have in other people’s lives. Even if it’s an hour at a time … you get to see an impact, and you meet the people there that you are impacting.  

It makes me feel good – it's something I enjoy doing.  

What are your biggest tips for people approaching retirement who are interested in volunteering?  

You become the CEO of you at that point, so there is no wrong thing to do.  

Brainstorm a list of all the things you want to do – everything from both ends of the spectrum: Things you always thought you wanted to do if you had the time all the way to things you kind of had a passing interest in. Find those organizations that have those pieces that you can go and experience.  

Sometimes you find out it’s not a good fit – and that’s fine. Finding out what you don’t want to do is just as important as finding out what you do want to do.  

The really neat thing is: There are a lot of studies that talk about having a social network. Especially as you go into retirement and age, it’s very important from a health standpoint as well as an emotional and cognitive standpoint. By volunteering and finding these organizations you’re passionate about, you actually inadvertently build a social network out of that.  

That’s one of the things I’ve really benefited from: I’ve met people that I never would have met before. We get together and have lunch all the time, we’ve become friends over the last few years.  

To learn more about Always United and how to join, click the button below.