Why We Give To Shepherds – A Donor’s Story

Jimmy Mahoney is a young man with autism who works as an Assurance Senior at Plante Moran, an audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management firm in Schaumburg, Illinois. When he learned about Shepherds College®, he arranged a visit to tour our campus. Jimmy met our staff and students, volunteered at a mock interview fair for students, discussed a fundraiser to benefit our program, and perhaps most importantly, showed our students that people with disabilities can be successful in the workforce.

Jimmy then coordinated a June fundraiser through Plante Moran’s Staff Resource Group “Minds of All Kinds,” a group celebrating and supporting neurodiversity. They donated the funds to support the Shepherds College academic programming, where students receive classroom and community-based training to learn financial empowerment skills.

Jimmy was excited Plante Moran could work with Shepherds for this fundraiser because he feels programs like ours are essential to help students see their potential instead of their disabilities. “I’m neurodiverse myself — I have autism — and I understand it can be challenging to have high self-esteem,” Jimmy said. “I’ve had moments where I doubted I would make it this far in public accounting. However, I’ve overcome those obstacles to be the professional I am today.”

Jimmy is a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and co-founded Minds of All Kinds in 2021. When he was a new employee at Plante Moran, there were times he felt different and out of place. However, through meeting other neurodiverse individuals, he became more accepting of himself in a professional environment. “It is important for every individual in the workplace to believe they belong there,” Jimmy said. “One of the best ways to help staff feel like they belong is for them to connect with their colleagues on a personal level.”

Three years later, Minds of All Kinds has grown to 400+ members. The group includes those who are neurodivergent, those who have family who are neurodiverse, and those who are simply curious to learn more about neurodiversity. They meet monthly, arrange casual get-togethers for camaraderie, and schedule monthly meditations for members who would simply like a breather.

Jimmy is very encouraging to Shepherds College students participating in a third-year Occupational Experience or looking forward to finding employment after graduation. “There will be challenges in the workplace, but there is nothing you cannot overcome,” he reassures. “I’ve stayed positive by telling myself my neurodiversity does not define what I can accomplish; I define what I can accomplish. This positive attitude and meeting other Minds of All Kinds members has let me show my true potential as a Certified Public Accountant.”

Jimmy truly represents the greatest benefits of a community partnership—engagement, enhancement of our resources, volunteerism, professional development of our students, and raising awareness of Shepherds College within his community!

If your business would like to arrange a fundraiser to support the Shepherds College students, please contact Alicia Miklavcic-Franz at afranz@shepherdscollege.edu.