Todd Millang

Todd Millang has already made a significant impact on the lives of more than eight young men living at the Orchard Place Campus, and his personal commitment to improving the lives of troubled kids ensures that he will continue to make a difference for many years to come.

Senior Vice President with CBRE/Hubbell Commercial, Millang has been successful in life. He claims he owes it all to his parents and family, who instilled in him a love for education, the motivation to work for what he wanted, and a sense of compassion for others. "My parents were always there for me," he says with a smile. "They valued education and there was always a focus on doing well in school."

Millang's passion for learning crosses over into his volunteer efforts. As a seasoned mentor, he feels that the boys he works with "are all inherently good kids—they just need to be put on the right path." That path, according to Millang, includes graduating from high school and going on to higher education.

"I was incredibly fortunate. I had a wonderful family and a lot of opportunities. I volunteer because I see it as a way for me to step up and give these kids the same kinds of opportunities."

Except for one out of the eight boys that Millang has mentored, all have gone on to succeed in their treatment programs and have been able to make a positive transition away from residential living. Although he only works with each child for a year or so while they are living at the Campus, Millang makes an effort to stay in touch with the kids he mentors and continue to show them unconditional support. "I want them to know they have someone there for them," he says. "So I tell them that I'll help them in any way I can, whether it's with their homework or their social life or financial assistance so they can afford to go to college."

And Millang follows through on his promises. One young man that he mentored aged out of the system and had no place to go. Like many of the kids Millang has been assigned to work with, this boy had no family and no outside support system. "He needed a place to go and I had an extra room, so he stayed with me until he could get grounded. I didn't want to see him get lost in the shuffle."

Clearly, Millang's dedication to making life better for kids is heartfelt. Yet he is the first to insist that his work as a volunteer does as much for him as it does for the kids. "I'm lucky enough to have a great job, a wonderful family, and good friends. But I love hanging out with the kids and exposing them to new things—like tickets to a sporting event—or just talking with them and being their friend. To me, it's a form of stress relief, and it puts all of my own issues in perspective. There is a huge personal reward that comes from volunteering."