Extreme Teams Spotlight : Jason
Jason Bardales - Photography Team
What is your story about how you got involved in Extreme Community Makeover?
In the summer of 2020, in the midst of the COVID shutdown, I made the decision to take an early retirement when my position of 15 years in financial services was eliminated. I have always sought ways to volunteer with various organizations and wanted an new opportunity to give back in a hands on manner. I found out about ECM through the Spark the Change Colorado website and was exactly what I was looking for!
Why are you on the Photography Team?
I have always loved photography but never had an occasion to do anything beyond capturing a special event or vacation highlights. ECM provided the opportunity to put my novice skills to work and share the excitement and beauty of giving back and working with others.
What are you looking forward to about being the team leader this year?
There is a wonderful synergy that exists within ECM and a huge opportunity to make it expand. As a Team Leader I think it will be exciting to see how we can make it grow even farther and watch as others embrace what we do and take more ownership of growing what ECM accomplishes.
What is a memorable experience from an ECM Work Day?
On my second photography assignment I was documenting another group of volunteers descending on a home to start the massive yard clean up effort. I remember watching everyone hard at work and as I turned around I noticed that a middle aged woman took it upon herself to climb up a tree in order to be able to cut down a number of hanging limbs. I remember thinking how impressive it was that these volunteers weren't afraid to get dirty and go the extra mile (or extra height) to do the job right. That's extreme volunteering and that's what ECM cultivates.
If you had one sentence to describe what ECM is about, what would you say?
ECM is a premier example of like minded individuals banding together to make a difference at the community level; with no personal incentive volunteers give of themselves to make a difference and create a meaningful experience for everyone involved.
Anything else would you like to share?
ECM is an amazing organization and everyone involved should take pride in what we accomplish everyday in every way!