- The Founders -

Our founders, Patrick Scheld and Nathan Williams, both graduated from St. Michaels College in 2006. After spending time in the working world, they decided to pursue their passions for travel and hands on learning experiences and began researching opportunities to get involved around the globe. As they browsed websites and talked to others, they found that there were seemingly endless programs, yet little if any consolidated efforts to evaluate them; there were few resources to help young adults choose the program that best fits their skills and interests. This discovery inspired them to create The Step Outside Initiative, Corp.

Patrick Scheld          Nathan Williams

Both Nate and Pat have been active members and regular volunteers in their local communities working hard to ensure that others who follow will have the same, if not more, opportunity. Nate got involved without delay by helping to bring a Habitat for Humanity chapter to his high school, while at the same time in his hometown, Pat was organizing volunteer trips into Boston to help with an annual Christmas party for the less fortunate called Christmas in the City. Both opportunities continue to be a big part of the volunteer scene in their respective hometowns.

In college, Nate and Pat remained active volunteers and got involved with the study abroad program at St. Mike's. Although attending at different times, they spent a semester abroad studying at the University of Salzburg in Salzburg, Austria. In Salzburg they took advangtage of their unique opportunity overseas to experience new culture, meet new people, further their studies, and travel extensively throughout Europe. This experience opened their eyes to see the world from a renewed perspective which they hope to share with the world and inspire a growing population of young adults, estimated at 1.2 billion worldwide, to 'Step Outside' and volunteer with confidence.

The Step Outside Initiative is the result of both Nate and Pat’s experiences and passions in life. They have developed it in an effort to ensure other young adults have the same opportunities to become a pro-active member of our global community. They believe that ‘experience is knowledge’, and they hope to inspire others to step outside their comfort zone, experience new cultures, and meet new people.