CaringWays® Spotlight: Dan Prokop, VP of Business Development
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Dan Prokop understands the importance and value of community. Growing up as the son of a pastor, Dan learned from a young age that being surrounded by people who truly care about you and your well-being is one of life’s greatest joys.
“Any time you’re going through a difficult season there is tremendous hope in knowing that you have friends and loved ones to pick you up.”
“Having your people near you and around you makes every circumstance better. Any time you’re going through a difficult season there is tremendous hope in knowing that you have friends and loved ones to pick you up. And when things are going well, it is more fun to have people around you to celebrate with.”
Since community is at the heart of Dan’s life, it’s easy to see why he was tapped to be a part of the CaringWays® team. The platform allows people to help their friends and family members in a way that will really make a difference.
“We have all heard of instances where a friend, a family member, or even a stranger is going through something that we can’t even fathom the difficulty of their circumstances. Too many times you sit there wanting to help, but you don’t know how. We have an option now.”
“We have all heard of instances where a friend, a family member, or even a stranger is going through something that we can’t even fathom the difficulty of their circumstances. Too many times you sit there wanting to help, but you don’t know how. We have an option now. We have something that we can hand people that says, ‘We wanna give hope to you when you’re walking through a journey.’ And if you’re a friend or a family member sitting on the sidelines not sure what you can do, here’s a solution: take this and go help them out.”
It’s Dan’s drive to help others that sent him and his wife bouncing around the country over a period of 8 years. Prior to CaringWays®, Dan worked with his family on a startup that he calls “another kind of do good, feel good model.” During that span of time, Dan and his wife made seven major moves and had four kids. Having babies and raising children without family nearby was challenging, to say the least.
“It may have been those early years of having kids and being away from family that really solidified the value of community for me even further.”
“It may have been those early years of having kids and being away from family that really solidified the value of community for me even further. When we were in California, we had an almost two-year-old and one on the way. It kind of hit us, like, if she goes into labor, there’s not enough time for grandma or grandpa to hop on a plane and get here and help out.
We were beyond blessed to find that our friends gladly stepped into those traditional family roles when family wasn’t nearby. There are certain favors that you don’t hesitate to ask your family for in time of need, but you would never fathom burdening your friends with. The truth is that most people actually want the opportunity to help. There is tremendous blessing and joy in having the opportunity to lift a friend when they can’t lift themselves. When friends fill the gap or meet a need, it is special because it is love and service that exceeds expectations.”
If you’re lucky, your interests and passions in life can align with your career, and that’s certainly the case for Dan. The platform accesses and activates local communities to serve as surrogate families for those in need, something Dan understands from both sides. As CaringWays® grows, Dan and the team hope it can also one day serve as a network that builds fellowship for individuals who may need it. CaringWays® is a unique platform with the potential to change hundreds of thousands of lives, and Dan is thrilled to be playing a part in making that a reality.
Dan and his family settled in Nashville in 2018, and he says the camaraderie they’ve found here has been “especially sweet.” When they’re not out on adventures or playing host to friends, you can find Dan and his family at a ball field watching one of their three sons play flag football or in their backyard being worn out by their 5-year-old daughter.
