He’s giving forward by inspiring future problem solvers and working across generations.
Ben Manny was born and raised in the South, where he married and started his family. He worked with a small software company that was soon acquired by Intel, where he continued to work for decades until he retired in 2006. Since that time, he has been a strong advocate at Intel and in the larger community for the importance of remaining civically engaged throughout all stages of life. He has also highlighted the value of working across generations to build a brighter future.
Finding Purpose Through Volunteering
Ben became connected with SAGE through a fellow Intel retiree who had been an Encore Fellow with that organization. He was drawn to SAGE’s mission and found alignment with his own goals for retirement.
“When I retired, I was interested in inspiring youth to become problem solvers,” Ben explains. “There are so many problems in the world. At the time, I was mostly focused on technology and engineering as a way to train problem solvers to work on these different problems.”
Making a Difference with Youth
Ben’s primary volunteer activities center around coaching FIRST LEGO League Robotics Teams for middle school students. He began as a tournament judge after being recruited by a friend, who brought the program to Intel. Seven years ago, he was invited to coach a neighborhood team.
“I like coaching youth much better than judging,” Ben shared with a laugh. “The coaching was really nice because you got to meet and build a connection with the kids.”
These middle school students, ages 9 to 14, would walk to his house where he set up a robotics table for them. After three years with his first team, he began coaching another group that included siblings from the original team. They recently completed their fourth season in January 2025.
Ben also participates in Intel’s PC Pals program, an email pen pal initiative where he corresponds with students twice weekly. “I especially enjoy a PC Pal who’s an avid reader,” he says. “I can then read books that they’ve read and find things in those books to discuss with them. I find that rewarding, and I think it expands their viewpoint a little bit.”
Impact and Inspiration
One particularly meaningful experience for Ben was working with a Chinese girl who had been adopted by an American family with two older biological children. Her parents were not technically inclined, but through the robotics program, she discovered her passion and decided to pursue engineering — an outcome that likely wouldn’t have happened without that opportunity.
But beyond specific career outcomes, Ben finds fulfillment in building relationships with these young people. “What I like to try to do is really get to know and engage with them, to really show up for young people and try to help them through these challenging times,” he says. “Just be there.”
He attends their piano recitals, choir concerts, and gets to know their parents — who are typically around the age of his adult children. “It’s like having grandchildren close by,” he notes, since his own grandchildren live in California.
Time Commitment and Challenges
Ben dedicates 20 to 25 hours per week to volunteer activities. For the robotics coaching alone, he logs approximately 150 to 200 hours annually through Intel’s volunteer program, which donates $10 to the nonprofit for every hour he volunteers.
Challenges include coordinating with busy parents who manage their children’s calendars and balancing volunteer work with necessary life tasks. “My study’s a mess,” he admits with a smile. “There’s always yard work to be done. There are all these other things, these life chores and life tasks that I don’t find as interesting, but they do need to get done.”
Advice for Prospective Volunteers
For those considering volunteering but unsure where to start, Ben recommends finding a group that you feel comfortable with and getting involved that way. “Some people are passionate about specific problems — climate change is a big area a lot of people are interested in these days,” he says.
Ben’s favorite piece of wisdom, which he shares with young people and adults alike, is that “Your life is determined not by what you want, but by the choices you make.”
“Free will is one thing everyone has,” he emphasizes. “It’s important to exercise that deliberately, especially when so many entities are competing for your attention and time.”
Part of making good choices involves being mindful of how you spend your time. “These tech companies are experts at keeping your attention because that’s how they make money,” Ben cautions. “Be conscious of these distractions so you can focus on activities that are more fulfilling in the long run.”
If you would like to learn more, contact SAGE.