Deep in the heart: Schwab’s Texas commitment

When Shar Loper walked into a softball game one afternoon, she didn’t expect to be noticed. But one moment from the dugout reminded her why she volunteers.

“She saw me and her face just lit up,” Shar recalls, referring to the child in foster care she was there to cheer on. “She waved and shouted, ‘She’s here—my CASA’s here.’ That moment melted my heart.”

Shar, a Schwab Technology Services employee and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), has been a steady presence in the lives of three siblings navigating the foster care system. For three years, she’s been their advocate, their cheerleader, and—most importantly—their constant.

And she’s not alone.

Across Schwab’s Westlake campus and beyond, employees are turning personal passions into meaningful actions supporting causes like CASA of Tarrant County and countless other organizations they care about that strengthen the North Texas community.

When Charles Schwab officially relocated its corporate headquarters from San Francisco to Westlake, Texas in 2019, it wasn’t just a change of address—it was a commitment. The 70-acre campus, nestled within the Circle T Ranch development, has grown into Schwab’s largest employment center, now home to more than 7,000 employees.

“Our presence in North Texas is rooted in more than business—it’s grounded in deep, long-standing relationships with the people and organizations driving sustainable progress in our hometown neighborhoods,” explains Chris Wyse, Schwab Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and President and Chair of Charles Schwab Foundation. “Whether it’s a young student building their confidence through financial education, a first-generation entrepreneur launching a small business, or a family finding stability through affordable housing, we are committed to a future where everyone in North Texas and beyond can prosper.”

That commitment to a brighter future for everyone is reflected in more than just corporate initiatives, it’s lived out every day by Schwab employees who are deeply invested in their community—employees like Shar.

For Shar, her work as a CASA volunteer isn't just a role—it’s a lifeline for children who often feel invisible.

“I didn’t have a voice for my niece and nephew [in foster care] when they needed one,” she says. “Now, I get to be that voice for someone else.”

Starting when they were just 9 months, 4 years, and 7 years old, Shar was assigned to a case with three young siblings. Over the years she’s attended their court hearings and parent-teacher conferences. She’s played hopscotch, drawn with chalk, and cheered from the sidelines. She’s the person who shows up—consistently, compassionately, and without fail.

“Their case workers have changed five times,” Shar says. “But I’ve been there the whole time. I’m the one constant.”

She’s also a bridge between foster families and cultural understanding. When the children on her case—who are Black—were placed with white foster parents, Shar helped guide them through specific hair care routines. 

“Seeing their faces light up when they get their hair done—it’s joy. It’s dignity. It’s belonging.”

Even when one of the children was placed in a specialized treatment program hours away in Katy, Texas, Shar made the effort to meet halfway in Waco so the siblings could stay connected. She video chats regularly and continues to be a trusted adult in their lives.

And when adoption day came last May, she used her 8-hours of paid volunteer time to be there to celebrate with her “littles.”

“Just because the legal case is closed doesn’t mean the relationship ends,” Shar says. “I’ll always be there if they need me.”

Melissa Navarrete, an employee who works in Schwab Advisor Services, also has a deep personal connection to CASA of Tarrant County. Her family’s story includes adoption, trauma, and healing—and the quiet heroism of CASA volunteers.

“My niece was in a group home and always talked about her CASA volunteer,” Melissa says. “I never met that person, but I was so grateful. CASA stepped in when I couldn’t.”

Initially Melissa’s schedule didn’t allow her to serve as a CASA volunteer, so she focused on other ways to support the organization. She hosted CASA of Tarrant County on Schwab’s Westlake campus for an informational session, hoping to recruit other employees to become CASA volunteers. She also organized a school supply drive and helped lead a backpack-building activity during Schwab Family Day to benefit the children CASA of Tarrant County serves. Her efforts even led to a $20,000 grant from Charles Schwab Foundation through Schwab’s employee-nominated grant giving program in 2024, plus another $8,000 in grants in 2025. And now that she has more time, she’s finally becoming a CASA volunteer herself.

“Children are not a distraction from more important work—they are the most important work,” says Melissa, quoting C.S. Lewis to explain her motivation for merging CASA with the workplace.

Schwab’s story in North Texas is still being written—but it’s already one of deep connection, shared purpose, and meaningful impact. From the boardroom to the playground, from strategic consulting to school supply drives, Schwab is showing up for its community—through the passion of its employees, and through firm-wide programs and partnerships designed to create lasting change.

Because North Texas is more than Schwab’s headquarters—it’s home.