For many people, retirement marks the end of one chapter and the hopeful beginning of another. But Greg Burris saw too many of his peers starting that next chapter without a clear purpose.
After serving as city manager of Springfield, Mo., Greg noticed a troubling trend among his friends.
“When I asked them what they were going to do in retirement, they said they were going to fish,” Greg recalled with a chuckle. “That was the plan. I’m just going to fish.”
While fishing might sound appealing in the short term, Greg knew that wouldn’t be enough to sustain fulfillment.
“These were highly skilled, very motivated people,” he said. “I predicted the fishing plan would last about 30 to 60 days. And I was right. Then I’d get a call from them saying, ‘Okay, I get it now. I need something else to do. What are my options?’”
That realization became the spark behind Give 5, a civic matchmaking program that Greg and Cora Scott, director of public information and civic engagement for the City of Springfield, created to help seasoned citizens connect with nonprofits that could use their time and talents.
“We think of retirement as a destination. You can even get the countdown app on your phone and say, yep, it’s this many hours until I retire,” he said. “But what we don’t think about as much is the week after retirement. And what about the month after, and the year after that?”
Through Give 5, Greg found his own next chapter as well as a deep sense of meaning and purpose.
Connecting people to purpose
Give 5 is a free, five-day class where older adults learn about their local community and visit up to 23 nonprofits to discover where they might want to serve. The idea, Greg said, is to open people’s eyes to both the needs of their community and the opportunities available to meet them.
“It’s not just for retirees. It’s for any older adult,” he explained. “Whether they’re new to the area or have lived there for 70 years, it doesn’t matter. We teach them about the community and then we get on a bus and go visit nonprofits.”
Each nonprofit has 45 minutes to make its case to the class, sharing its mission, the people it serves, and the specific ways volunteers can get involved. Some bring existing volunteers to share testimonials, but the most powerful moments often come from previous Give 5 graduates who explain why they chose that nonprofit and how it changed their lives.
“The volunteers get a lot out of volunteering,” Greg said. “And we tell classes, volunteering is voluntary. You don’t have to do anything. But about 98 percent of our graduates do go on to volunteer in the community.”
In fact, most people don’t stop at just one nonprofit.
“The conversation we typically hear on the bus around day three is, ‘I’ve got it narrowed to ten,’” he laughed. “We had one lady who chose seven. That’s probably too many, but it’s totally up to them. Some do a little, while some do a lot.”
Creating meaningful experiences
Greg emphasized that the program isn’t just about learning from PowerPoint presentations.
“Seeing is believing,” he said. “If we sat in a classroom all day, it wouldn’t be nearly as engaging. But when you go to the nonprofit, get a feel for the vibe, meet the people and see what they do, it makes all the difference in the world.”
He was also surprised by how much the bus rides themselves contributed to the program’s success.
“We thought those rides would be awkward. They’re not. You can’t hear yourself think on the bus because people are talking to each other. They’re sharing stories about what they just saw or what’s coming up. Some of these people become friends for life.”
The class structure also includes guest speakers, such as the mayor, city council members, school superintendents or university professors.
“It gives people a sense of access and insight into their community,” Greg said. “They feel special. They get to ask questions and learn directly from community leaders.”
What begins as a five-day class often becomes a long-term commitment.
“Some people stand up on day one and say, ‘I’ve been isolating. This is the first time I’ve left my house all year except to go through a drive-thru,’” he said. “Then we bring them back for reunions, and those are the people who stay the longest and talk the most. It’s transformative.”
Measuring impact
The Give 5 program started in Springfield but has since expanded to 13 communities across four states, including Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. The state of Missouri officially adopted the program and now funds it in nine cities.
A 2023 survey showed that Give 5 graduates in Missouri contributed more than $6.7 million worth of volunteer time in one year alone, a 670% return on investment for the state.
“That’s a pretty good return on investment,” Greg said.
Beyond the numbers, the program’s real impact is in the emotional and psychological benefits for participants. Partnering with researchers from Missouri State, Stanford and Penn State, Greg and his team found that participants experience increased empathy, a stronger sense of belonging and a greater trust in nonprofits.
“One of the best results was a significant increase in people’s sense of ownership of their community,” he said. “When you walk into a domestic abuse shelter, or a food pantry, and you understand why it exists – because we give you the background first – then people are moved.
“They say, ‘I’ve driven by that building every day for 30 years. I never knew what went on in there.’ Now they do,” Greg added.
Finding purpose after 50
While Give 5 has brought purpose to thousands of older adults, it has also become the cornerstone of Greg’s own semi-retirement. After retiring three times, he now works part-time for United Way of the Ozarks, overseeing the program locally. On his own time, he helps support the national expansion of Give 5.
“I’m either really good at retirement or really bad at it,” he joked. “But this program gives me energy. It meets so many needs in our community, and I get to watch people light up when they realize how much they’re still needed.”
Greg is also working on a new project focused on countering polarization and social division. After giving a keynote speech at a faith leaders’ dinner, he challenged attendees to confront a dozen societal trends that are moving in the wrong direction. Those include things like misinformation, institutional distrust and isolation.
“I’m putting together a model to survey different sectors of the community from business, government, nonprofits and media to ask them what issues are most urgent,” he explained. “From there, we’ll create strategies to address them. It might not sound like fun to most people, but I love figuring this stuff out.”
Greg’s passion for civic engagement goes beyond volunteerism. It’s about rebuilding the fabric of communities from the inside out. He believes churches, businesses and civic leaders all have a role to play. But he’s especially committed to helping seasoned citizens realize their own potential.
“Everyone needs to feel needed,” he said. “So many people over 50 have this treasure trove of experience, wisdom and skills that are going unused. That’s a tragedy. Through Give 5, we help them find places where their talents matter.”
Advice for finding purpose
For people who are unsure how to make their retirement more meaningful, Greg offered a simple piece of advice.
“Break your bubble,” he said. “We all live in bubbles with the same friends, same routines and same activities. I’ve met people who play golf and cards every day, and that’s it. They repeat the same day with the same people over and over. You have to step outside that comfort zone.”
He encourages people to explore new interests, whether it’s volunteering, picking up a musical instrument or joining a group with a shared purpose.
“I’ve always found that things get more interesting where trends collide and intersect,” he said. “That’s where innovation happens. That’s where your purpose can be found.”
Even his own love of music plays a role in his life’s fulfillment. A longtime guitar player, Greg performs in a church praise band and an acoustic rock group. His guitar collection, which is now up to 14, doubles as decor and conversation starters.
“My wife says I suffer from GAS – guitar acquisition syndrome,” he laughed. “I buy guitars but don’t sell them. Some of them even have history, like the red one that was played in the Ozark Mountain Daredevils for years.”
For Greg, a life of purpose after 50 means using his leadership skills, creativity and compassion to build stronger, more connected communities. Through Give 5 and his ongoing civic projects, he’s helping others find the same sense of fulfillment.
“Retirement isn’t the end,” he said. “It’s the beginning of something new. You just have to be willing to open the door.”
For more information
People can connect with in several ways:
- Website = www.give5program.com
- Facebook = www.facebook.com/SGFGive5
- LinkedIn = www.linkedin.com/in/greg-burris-39724b149
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.