Rocco Papandrea is passionate about supporting the work of American Bible Society because he knows firsthand that giving back can change a life.

When his father died of a stroke, Rocco was only 13 and his sister was 10. It was through the kindness of others—and his own hard work and faith in God—that set him on a course of helping others.

‘‘A month after my father passed, we received a check from the VA for $25,000 from his life insurance proceeds,’’ Rocco notes. A short time later, his uncle took Rocco and his mother to Merrill Lynch, so they could open an account to protect the financial security of the family. “We wouldn’t have known what to do.”

When the Brooklyn apartment building they lived in was sold by the owners, the church helped the family find another apartment nearby and hired both Rocco and his mother. While attending school, he was the Sexton and an altar boy at the church, and also worked at a Carvel ice cream store.

“My family struggled to make sure I would grow up the way my father wanted. Parochial school was important to my parents,” Rocco says.

Although he received a full scholarship to Boston College, he explains, “I knew I couldn’t relocate to Boston and leave my mother and sister behind.” He had also received a half academic scholarship to New York University’s Stern School of Business. Fortunately, after reviewing the statements that Merrill Lynch had been sending over the past four years, he learned there was enough money for him and his sister to attend college.

Rocco was so impressed with the firm that had been handling his family’s investments that he hoped to work there upon attaining his finance degree. The patience and guidance of the financial advisor who years ago took the time to help his family were instrumental in making Rocco follow that career path.

Working at Merrill Lynch for the last 20 years, he is now a senior vice president of wealth management and wealth management advisor, located at Rockefeller Center.

“I love that I make it possible for people to attain comfortable retirement lifestyles, and enable their children and grandchildren to go to college,” Rocco explains.

He was introduced to American Bible Society by his friend and former coworker Mario Paredes, who now serves American Bible Society as presidential liaison Catholic Ministries, Strategic Ministries. In particular, Rocco became interested in the work of the Multi-Language Ministries unit, led by Executive Director Rev. Emilio A. Reyes, especially its literacy outreach, a cause important to Rocco and his mother. She was born in Puerto Rico and his father in Italy. He is now a valued member of the Latino Advisory Council at American Bible Society.

For several years, Rocco has taken advantage of the employee matching grant program offered by his employer. It’s another way he can support children and adults in the areas of faith and literacy.

“Faith and education had a huge impact on my life. My wife and I now have the chance to help people who may not otherwise have those opportunities,” he notes.

You can support the work of American Bible Society around the world too! Visit: Donate.AmericanBible.org.