Ray Haas helped build homes, mentor youth and more for years. Now, he's part of the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame.

There is something unexpected tucked away in Ray Haas’ wallet.

Carried around with him is his personal mission statement he wrote as a 23-year-old in 1978, which details his desire to seek and reinforce the good in people, to make a positive difference and to ask others to help him support those in need, though it doesn't end there.

They aren't just words to Haas. The Coralville resident has embodied statement for years in his many roles as a neighbor building bikes for local youth, a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, an Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity volunteer, a blood donor, a New Life Community Church member and more.

Decades serving others has led to an Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame induction, nominated by Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity staff.

The recognition is the most prestigious honor volunteers can receive at the state level, according to the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame. Haas was one of five recipients in 2023 and the only person from Johnson County.

“It's a nice honor,” Haas told the Press-Citizen. “I don't do things for honors, but if it brings attention to what I'm serving and the organizations I'm serving can benefit as a result of the induction or the ceremony or publicity, then all the better.”

A close bond forms between Ray Haas and his 12-year-old mentee

Pedaling up dirt trails in Coralville Creekside Ballpark are Haas and 12-year-old Otis Ray Maclin, who was matched with Haas through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County program in 2018.

Maclin's one of the lucky kids to match as the need for mentors grows.

Alongside racking up what Haas estimated more than 2,000 miles biking together, the two spend their time reading books, participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters events, watching University of Iowa sporting events and enjoying a meal — the crew at Jersey Mike’s in Coralville know Maclin by name and as well as his order.

Naturally, the two are close. Maclin is like a son to Haas.

“(My wife and I were) never been blessed to have our own kids so we have time to be with other people's kids,” Haas said.

Haas first took a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America mentor role in college.

Later in June, Haas and wife Retha, an Iowa native, will take Maclin on his first plane ride and head to Pennsylvania for a trip that will involve visiting the Liberty Bell, the Jersey Shore and meeting some of Haas’ family.

Haas treats him to dinner at Red Lobster every year for Maclin's February birthday. Around Christmas, Maclin’s family join Haas and his wife at home to open gifts and spend time together.

The life-lessons have been frequent during their five-year partnership, Maclin said.

“Being thankful for what you have and then also, just learning how to ride a bike safe and proper and how much God can help with things,” Maclin said.

More: 'We can't match kids without having mentors': Big Brothers Big Sisters sees need for volunteers

Ray Haas finds ways to help others by fixing bikes, providing unhoused people shelter

A few months after Haas wrote his mission statement in 1978 at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference, he tweaked it for a college class.

It’s remained untouched since.

Several tragedies have helped shape Haas' mission. In 1971, his best friend was killed in car accident caused by a drunk driver. Four days after graduation that same year, another friend died in a similar case.

Three years later, his youngest brother lost his lower right leg in a lawn mower accident, immediately spurring Haas to become a blood donor. The American Red Cross later awarded him for organizing blood drives and recruiting new donors.

Though Haas grew up in a family that didn’t go to church, he found Christianity as a young adult, recalling Christian coaches in school that were “great influences” in his life.

“If I hadn't been a decent athlete, I'm not quite sure where I would have ended up because some of my friends didn't make very good choices and I was the oldest of six kids and we didn't have much money,” he said. “I was both a leader on the athletic field but sort of a follower otherwise.”

While Haas has been involved with many nonprofits, he’s doesn't need an organization to help others.

For years, he helped kids build bikes in his Coralville neighborhood, rummaging through the landfill for dilapidated bikes to bring back to life.

Haas and his wife also opened their home to unhoused people for weeks.

All the while, Glen Campbell's 1969 song "Try a Little Kindness" has motivated Haas, the lyrics reflective of his approach save for Haas' belief one should overcome the "blindness of the narrow-minded-people," not overlook it.

"If you see your brother standing by the road with a heavy load from the seeds he sowed... you've got to try a little kindness."

“That's been the theme of my adult life,” Haas said.

‘His heart’s too big for his chest’: Work with Habitat for Humanity

Haas was a founding member of the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Kirksville, Missouri in the 1990s before getting involved with the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, later becoming board president.

Christy Shipley, construction manager, started working at Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity nearly two decades ago and was hired by Haas.

Shipley said Haas remains active with the affiliate, working general construction, helping Shipley clear up sites and is part of their strategic planning committee, among other responsibilities.

That’s on top of years of building, remodeling, and reaching out to youth and the community to foster relationships for the affiliate.

Or, when he and his wife Retha cycled across the country and raised over $50,000 in their two-month journey for Habitat for Humanity.

The construction manager described Haas as a “true empath” who understands what other people need and tries to make as big a dent in the world as possible.

“His heart’s too big for his chest,” she said. “His urge to help is overpowering.”

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Coralville man is inducted into Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame