Someone Opened a Door for Sebastian. Now He's Opening Doors for Others
After receiving support when he needed it most, Sebastian Galvez is helping the next generation find opportunity through The Salvation Army and Echelon.
Growing up, Sebastian Galvez never realized his parents were going without so he wouldn't have to.
If he was still hungry at dinner, they would slide food from their plates onto his. As a child, he accepted it without a second thought. As an adult, he understands what those moments meant.
"I realize now that maybe they didn't leave the table full so that I could," he said.
His family had immigrated to New Jersey from El Salvador, where rising gang violence and a devastating earthquake had pushed them to seek a safer future. Seven family members shared a two-bedroom apartment. Money was tight, but Sebastian's parents never let him carry that burden.
"My parents always made sure there was food on the table, lights on and a roof over our heads," he said.
Today, those memories shape the way Sebastian lives, leads and serves.
By day, he works in corporate America, where conversations about second homes and European vacations are commonplace. By night and on weekends, he serves through The Salvation Army via its Echelon program, helping raise funds, lead volunteers and support programs that provide assistance to families facing many of the same struggles his own family once faced.
"That contrast is incredibly humbling," he said. "It reminds you that not everyone has the same opportunities."
As founder of the Morristown Echelon Chapter, vice chair of the National Echelon Leadership Council and a Salvation Army advisory board leader in New Jersey, Sebastian is helping a new generation of young professionals channel their talents, influence and resources into creating opportunities for others.
Because he knows firsthand what a single act of generosity can do.
A Scholarship That Changed Everything
When Sebastian graduated from high school, he faced a challenge familiar to many young adults.
College seemed out of reach.
His parents had worked tirelessly to support the family, but there simply wasn't enough money to pay for higher education.
"I realized the responsibility was on me to figure out how I was going to pay for school."
He took a gap year and worked multiple jobs before enrolling at a local community college. There, the school's foundation office connected him with a nonprofit scholarship program that paid for his first semester.
The financial support was life-changing. But the relationships that followed proved just as important. As a scholarship recipient, Sebastian was invited to share his story at a fundraising event. Speaking before donors and community leaders opened doors he never expected.
The experience introduced him to mentors, expanded his network and eventually helped launch a professional career at Johnson & Johnson.
More importantly, it showed him what happens when people choose to invest in someone else's future.
"It created opportunities that never would have existed otherwise," he said.
The Mentor Who Changed His Life
One of those opportunities came through a mentor who introduced Sebastian to Darren Siker, chair of The Salvation Army's advisory board in Morristown, New Jersey.
At the time, Sebastian was in his early twenties.
"I was the youngest person in the room," he recalled. "I wasn't really sure what value I could bring."
Darren saw something different.
He invited Sebastian to join the advisory board and became both a mentor and close friend.
"He took me under his wing," Sebastian said. "He helped me understand how to be an effective board member, how to be a leader and how to make an impact in the community."
The relationship quickly grew beyond board service.
An openly faithful man, Darren invested in Sebastian's spiritual development as well, demonstrating what servant leadership looked like in daily life.
"He helped me grow in my faith," Sebastian said. "He showed me what it means to be a good Christian and a good leader."
The mentorship transformed Sebastian's confidence and accelerated his personal and professional growth.
Years later, when Darren passed away, the loss was deeply felt throughout the community. Today, the local Salvation Army golf outing bears his name, a fitting tribute to a man whose legacy continues to impact lives.
Finding Purpose Through Service
Sebastian's introduction to The Salvation Army came through advisory board service, helping organize annual events like the Red Kettle Campaign, Angel Tree, Thanksgiving outreach efforts and fundraising tournaments.
What started as volunteer service soon became something more personal.
Serving through The Salvation Army exposed him to realities that reminded him of his own childhood.
Families struggling to pay rent.
Parents working multiple jobs.
Individuals facing homelessness.
Children whose futures depended on having someone believe in them.
It also reminded him of the generosity that had changed his own life.
"I was blessed by nonprofits and by people who invested in me," he said. "I want other young people to have those same opportunities."
Building the Next Generation of Leaders
As the youngest member of his advisory board, Sebastian was eventually asked about bringing Echelon to New Jersey.
The opportunity felt like a natural fit.
He already had experience leading young professional groups through his corporate career and believed strongly in creating spaces where young adults could serve, connect and grow.
After years of planning and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Morristown Echelon Chapter was officially chartered in 2021.
Today, Echelon members volunteer, fundraise and support Salvation Army programs while developing leadership skills and building meaningful friendships.
"The number one thing we do is volunteer, fundraise and do whatever we can to help," Sebastian said.
The group has organized everything from service projects to creative fundraising campaigns, including a pet photo contest that raised money to help send children to camp and support local youth programs.
But for Sebastian, the real impact isn't measured in dollars.
It's measured in people.
The Faces He'll Never Forget
One memory that stays with him is a young boy he met through a Salvation Army program.
The child couldn't have been more than ten years old.
Sebastian remembers playing basketball with him in the gym and being struck by how much joy he found in the simplest things.
"He just wanted to throw a ball around and kick a soccer ball," Sebastian said.
The boy reminded him of himself.
"I always found myself wondering what life looked like for him after he left the gym."
Another young person he remembers is a teenager named Pedro.
Pedro had a natural ability to lead. When he spoke, younger children listened. He loved The Salvation Army and was always volunteering and participating.
Looking at young people like Pedro reinforces why Sebastian continues to serve.
"Life is often about opportunity," he said. "Someone gave me an opportunity. People invested in me. I want other young people to have those same opportunities."
Faith in Action
At the center of Sebastian's story is a simple conviction: faith is meant to be lived.
"The greatest thing we can do is be the best representation of Jesus in the world," he said. "To love people well. To help people in need. To be accepting and compassionate."
That belief shapes how he approaches leadership, service and generosity.
From parents who sacrificed so he could succeed, to a scholarship that helped him attend college, to a mentor who believed in his potential, Sebastian sees God's hand throughout his journey.
"The Lord has been so good to me," he said. "I believe it's my responsibility to share those blessings with people who need help."
Your Opportunity to Open a Door
For young professionals looking to make a difference, Sebastian has a simple message:
"Jump right in."
Through Echelon, volunteers can develop leadership skills, build community and help meet urgent needs in their local communities while supporting The Salvation Army's mission.
Most importantly, they can become part of someone else's story.
Because sometimes a scholarship, a mentor or a simple invitation is all it takes to change a life.
Sebastian knows.
Someone opened a door for him.
Now he's opening doors for others.