Jay Harris, program manager for the U-Haul Digital Asset Management team, has always loved giving back and serving others.
“I started out volunteering as a kid by tagging along with my mom at the local Ronald McDonald House,” Harris said. “Since then, I’ve made it a point to dedicate my time and efforts to supporting local charities and other organizations.”
Harris was recently recognized for his volunteer service during a ceremony where he received the 2024 U-Haul Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to a Team Member who has volunteered the most hours, supported the greatest number of U-Haul charity partners, and inspired others to follow in their footsteps. U-Haul International has been headquartered in Phoenix since 1967 and many of the nonprofits it supports are based in the Valley.
“The award came as such a surprise,” Harris noted. “I was not expecting it at all, but I’m truly honored to receive it.”
Click here to view past U-Haul Volunteers of the Year and read their stories.
Consistent support
Harris volunteered at eight U-Haul volunteer events last year. One of his favorites was assembling emergency food boxes at St. Mary’s Food Bank.
“This event had the highest number of U-Haul volunteers there that I’ve ever seen, and it was awesome to connect with other Team Members who also enjoy community service,” Harris said. “Plus, we got to jam out to music while packing boxes. The coordination and teamwork that the volunteers and event organizers displayed was amazing, and it was definitely the best volunteer experience that I’ve had through U-Haul to this point.”
Harris expressed his gratitude to all who have supported and encouraged him in his efforts to serve.
“My manager and fellow Team Members are extremely supportive of me,” he said. “After I first joined the department, they introduced me to the Community Relations team, who taught me about all the volunteer events and other ways that U-Haul gives back. And my manager, U-Haul University (UHU) Director Tom Prefling, consistently encourages me to volunteer. After the first couple of events that I participated in, he began to ask, ‘So, when are you volunteering at the next one?’ His encouragement and motivation inspire me to keep getting involved.
“Volunteering is an incredible opportunity for everyone. If you’re looking to connect and network with fellow U-Haul Team Members, want to spend time with others, become active in the local community, or all of the above, attending these volunteer events is the perfect chance to do so.”
Exemplary volunteer
Omar McDonald, manager of the U-Haul Credit Administration, has been friends with Harris for years and has seen firsthand how his volunteering has improved lives.
“Jay is an intelligent and kind individual who regularly seeks opportunities to serve others, both professionally and personally,” McDonald said. “He readily shares his knowledge and facilitates connections between people with complementary skills.
“Jay invited me to the first U-Haul volunteer event that I ever attended,” McDonald continued. “It was packing emergency food boxes at St. Mary’s Food Bank. He helped me develop a love for volunteering, and I’ve now gone to several events and plan to continue volunteering whenever I can. Exemplary volunteers like Jay inspire us to give back and prove that we can always make time for those in need.”
Prefling appreciates Harris’ willingness to seek out opportunities to contribute in his daily work and volunteering efforts.
“Jay is a genuinely nice person,” Prefling said. “He is always happy to help wherever needed in his regular job, and on top of that, he consistently looks for opportunities to support U-Haul charity partners. And, he expertly balances his work duties with any volunteering that he chooses to participate in. I think that one of the things that we can all learn from him is to be proactive and look for ways to help others, no matter how busy our own lives may seem.
“If I could give any advice to U-Haul managers who may be ‘on the fence’ about letting their teams take time to volunteer, it would be that the job and department requirements come first — but there still are plenty of volunteer opportunities throughout the year that people on your team can take advantage of. Talk with them and help them find the events that fit into their work schedule. Remember that volunteering is an extremely powerful way to promote professional and personal growth and development.”
